Grass
Dwarf Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln' · Poaceae
Also called: Hameln Fountain Grass, Dwarf Chinese Fountain Grass
Dwarf Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln') is a low-water grass well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun.
Dwarf Fountain Grass at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours); tolerates light afternoon shade in Tucson and color/bloom are best in full sun
- Mature size
- 2-3 ft tall and 2-3 ft wide, including the foxtail-like flower plumes
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast in the warm season
- Bloom
- Creamy white to silvery-tan, buff foxtail/bottlebrush plumes aging to tan, Summer into fall (roughly July-September in the low desert)
- Cold hardiness
- Cold hardy to about USDA zone 5; fully hardy in Tucson (9a-9b). Goes dormant and turns straw-colored after frost, then regrows in spring.
- Soil
- Well-draining soil; tolerates a range of textures and alkaline pH. Does not tolerate constantly wet soil.
- Native range
- Species native to eastern Asia and Australia; 'Hameln' is a cultivated selection
- Best used as
- Mass planting, Border and accent, Containers, Low-water/xeriscape design, Erosion control on slopes
- Wildlife
- Plumes and seed provide minor forage and cover for birds; not a major pollinator plant. Deer- and rabbit-resistant.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic to dogs, cats, and humans. Safe ornamental grass; 'Hameln' is largely sterile and non-invasive.
How to grow Dwarf Fountain Grass in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
A warm-season grass that is drought tolerant once established. Water deeply 1-2 times per week in summer heat, every 2-3 weeks in cool months, and keep soil moist the first growing season to establish. Tolerates low-desert heat well.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Low feeder. A single light application of balanced or slow-release fertilizer in spring (March-April) as new growth begins is sufficient; over-fertilizing causes floppy growth. Tucson soils are alkaline and low in nitrogen and organic matter, so a thin compost topdressing helps.
Pruning & care
Cut back the entire clump to 3-4 inches in late winter (February) before new spring growth emerges; it is deciduous/dormant in winter. Do not cut during active summer growth.
Notes
One of the best-behaved ornamental grasses for Tucson: warm-season, heat-loving, non-invasive (unlike fountain grass's weedy relative Cenchrus setaceus / green fountain grass, which is invasive and should be avoided). Provides winter interest as tan seedheads until cut back.
Sources: Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension / Pima County Master Gardeners; Hoffman Nursery; Gardenia.net