Hamish

Pennisetum alopecuroides Hameln

Chinese fountain grass; Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’; Cenchrus alopecuroides

• 
  Bright light
• 
  Almost unkillable

• Hamish likes...
  • 
    A sunny spot

    He’ll thrive somewhere bright that gets sun for much of the day. He won’t do well in shade. Just make sure he is sheltered from harsh winds.

  • 
    Moist soil

    He prefers his soil to be kept lightly moist but he’ll cope if it dries out a bit.

  • 
    Feeding

    He should produce long, fluffy flowers from June to September. Prolong their life with a weekly feed.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’

  Nickname

  Chinese fountain grass

  Plant type

  Grass, outdoor

  Plant height (including pot)

  10-20cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Yes

  Nursery pot size

  17cm

• About Chinese fountain grass

  Chinese fountain grass gets its name from the way its leaves grow, rising from the middle of the plant and arching over, like water from a fountain. The brush-like flowers that arrive in summer add to the spray-like appearance. It’s a lovely plant to grow on its own in a pot or in the middle of a flower bed.

  Its simple looks make it ideal as a companion for more dramatically coloured plants. It’s very simple to grow, preferring a sunny spot but very unfussy about water. It can cope with fairly dry soil, but will be happiest if you keep it lightly moist. Leaves will be bright green when they emerge in Spring, then turn yellow through autumn and soft brown in winter when they die back. Cut back all the brown growth in early spring, to make way for new green leaves.

  Did you know?

  There are about 140 different species of fountain grass growing around the world.