Fountain grass
Pennisetum setaceum

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

Pennisetum setaceum is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 1.5 m (5ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 1.5

Where it is found

A densely tufted perennial up to 130 cm tall, growing in rocky hillsides and dry stony plains in grasslands, and occurs at altitudes of 600 to 3,000m. Native to open, scrubby habitats in East Africa, tropical Africa, Middle East and SW Asia.

Native range of this species is tropical Africa, it is found in Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Afghanistan and Sicily. It has also naturalized in North America, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Australasia, Namibia, South Africa, Micronesia, Fiji and New Caledonia.

Conservation Status: Status: Least Concern ver 3.1

Countries/locations it is found in

Native range of this species is tropical Africa, it is found in Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Afghanistan and Sicily. It has also naturalized in North America, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Australasia, Namibia, South Africa, Micronesia, Fiji and New Caledonia.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: balanced carb (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world). A minor or regional crop in production with low or unreported yields . A number of Pennisetum species have edible seeds - no detailed information could be found for this species.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 2

This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds. Fountain grass is well adapted to fire and fires may contribute to fountain grass spread. Fountain grass is of little grazing value due to its coarse rough leaves. A popular ornamental.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Balanced carb: (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Balanced carb: (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

Climate: warm temperate to subtropical, Mediterranean. Humidity: semi-arid. Light: Sun to Partial Shade. Soil pH requirements: 6.1 (mildly acidic) to 7.8 (mildly alkaline). It grows in most soils, even poorly drained soils preferring exposed, dry habitats, particularly rocky areas but can also grow in sandy soils such as coastal grasslands. It is drought-tolerant and fast growing. Becomes facultativlely inactive with extended drought, freezing, or near-freezing temperatures. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation).

Propagating it: Plants can be grown from cuttings. It can also be grown by seeds or division of the clump. This is a very easy grass to propagate.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 8-11

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Fountain grass or African fountain grass is a highly invasive tufted grass. Plants are used as ornamentals and once escaped, this grass can form dense stands that exclude all other plants. It has been used for soil stabilisation and is a weed of pastures and alongside railway lines and roads. It interferes with natural fire regimes and competes with native species for limited resources.

Its other names

Local names

Fountain grass, African fountain grass, crimson fountaingrass,

Synonyms

Cenchrus setaceus (Forssk.) Morrone. Pennisetum cupreum Hitchc. [Invalid]. Pennisetum erythraeum Chiov. Pennisetum macrostachyum Fresen. [Illegitimate]. Pennisetum macrostachyon Fresen. [Spelling variant]. Pennisetum numidicum Paris [Invalid]. Pennisetum orientale var. altissimum Chiov. Pennisetum orientale subsp. parisii Trab. Pennisetum orientale var. parisii (Trab.) Leeke. Pennisetum parisii (Trab.) Trab. Pennisetum phalaroides Schult. [Illegitimate]. Pennisetum ruppellii Steud. Pennisetum ruppellii var. depauperatum Schweinf. Pennisetum scoparium Chiov. Pennisetum setaceum var. parisii (Trab.) Maire. Pennisetum spectabile Fig. & De Not. Pennisetum tiberiadis Boiss. Phalaris setacea Forssk.