Grass – Pennistetum Glaucum Purple
A fast-growing annual grass which forms large clumps of broadly strap-shaped leave which start a dark green and mature to a rich deep mahogany Purple reaching 1.2 – 1.5m tall. In summer they produce gold coloured bottle brush like flower panicles followed by shiny purple seed heads. Very attractive to winter feeding birds. Will readily self-seed.
Cultivation advice Grass – Pennistetum Glaucum Purple
- Sow in trays or direct to pots under cover from Feb ? Apr in a well-drained preferably soil based compost.
- Germination averages 7-10 days at 22-25c, longer with insufficient temp.
- For tray sown seedling thin out to individual trays as soon as large enough to handle.
- Gradually acclimatise to outdoors as soon as all risk of frost has passed, plant out in 30cm spacings, best in a group.
- Beware leaving the plants in pots to get root bound or drying out as this will stimulate the plants to set seed early.
