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Red Bunny Tails Fountain Grass Pennisetum messiacum

Flower Season
  • Spring
  • Summer
Mature Size
3' 2'
Height: 18" - 3'
Spread: 18" - 2'
Proven Selections
  • Details

    Features

    Graceful flower plumes highlight burgundy-green foliage

    Heat Tolerant
    Deadheading Not Necessary
    Grass: 
    Grass

    Characteristics

    Plant Type: 
    Annual
    Height Category: 
    Tall
    Garden Height: 
    18 - 36 Inches
    Spacing: 
    18 - 24 Inches
    Spread: 
    18 - 24 Inches
    Flower Colors: 
    Pink
    Flower Shade: 
    Pink
    Foliage Colors: 
    Green
    Foliage Shade: 
    Green
    Habit: 
    Upright
    Container Role: 
    Thriller

    Plant Needs

    Light Requirement: 
    Part Sun to Sun

    The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).

    Maintenance Category: 
    Easy
    Bloom Time: 
    Mid Summer
    Bloom Time: 
    Late Summer
    Bloom Time: 
    Early Fall
    Bloom Time: 
    Mid Fall
    Bloom Time: 
    Late Fall
    Hardiness Zones: 
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
    Water Category: 
    Average
    Uses: 
    Container
    Uses: 
    Cut Flower
    Uses: 
    Dried Flower
    Uses: 
    Grass
    Uses: 
    Landscape
    Uses Notes: 

    Use in beds, borders and large containers

    Maintenance Notes: 

    Red Bunny Tails is a neutral-grass. Where temperatures get colder than zero degrees F, the plants should be treated as annuals. Once the grass turns brown it can either be removed immediately or removed in the spring. It should not be expected to live through the winter and begin growing again in the spring.

    In areas where winter temperatures remain above zero degrees it should be considered a perennial and the following information should be useful. Evergreen or neutral grasses are usually plants that look like grasses but aren't actually classified as grasses, they are generally called grass-like plants.

    Divide evergreen or neutral grasses and grass-like plants in spring only.
    Evergreen grasses don't ever go dormant. Dividing plants wounds them to some degree. For evergreen grasses this wounding will really affect their ability to live through the winter.

  • 2 Reviews

    5
    1
    4
    1
    3
    2
    1
    Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.
    • I planted this plant in front of a birdbath, when it was at full height it gave the bird a little protection and made the flowerbed even more pretty. It never flowered but grew for two seasons.

      Richard Reneau
      , Oregon
      , United States
      , 12 years ago
    • Russell Studebaker
      , Maryland
      , United States
      , 12 years ago
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