Fountain Grass plant profile
Pennisetum alopecuroides
A perennial grass for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Fountain Grass
Fountain grass is a clumping herbaceous perennial grass established by seed or by division of clumps. NC State directs you to cut the foliage to the ground in late winter, so set out new plants or divisions as spring growth resumes. It can self-seed and has escaped gardens in some regions, so site it where seeding is acceptable or use a sterile cultivar.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Fountain Grass in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 36 to 72 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 6a to 9bFind my hardiness zone
Next steps
Continue with Fountain Grass
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Cenchrus alopecuroides (Fountain Grass), formerly Pennisetum alopecuroides
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.