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| Category: Grass |
| Family: Poaceae (Gramineae) (Grasses) |
| Origin: Africa, East (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Red |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Synonyms: [P. messiacum, Hort., Cenchrus massaicus] |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F |
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Pennisetum massaicum (Red Bunny Tails Fountain Grass) - A well-behaved and very attractive evergreen (in mild climates) fountain grass that reaches to 18 to 24 inches tall by as wide with narrow mid green leaves that arch over gracefully and in late spring and summer arise the 2 foot tall flower stalks with tight, but fat, spikes of flowers, that are at first red and age to a nice tan, held above the foliage. Plant in full sun to light shade and give occasional to regular irrigation. Evergreen in mild climates and cold hardy but deciduous down to around 5 ° F (USDA 7) and tolerant of near coastal conditions. A very nice grass plant with flowers that dance about the foliage similar to the plant sold as Pennisetum spathiolatum, but with slightly shorter stems bearing heavier and redder flower clusters that, as John Greenlee says, are "just begging to be touched". This grass comes south Africa north through eastern tropical African north to Somalia where it grows in open savannas. It was first described from plants collected in Kenya by the Austrian born botanist Otto Spath, who later became director of the herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and was awarded the Linnean Medal in 1927. This plant is often erroneously listed (by some good sources) as Pennisetum messiacum but this spelling is incorrect.Though not yet listed as such in all nomenclatural databases, recent treatment of the genus Pennisetum has all species included in the genus Cenchrus with Pennisetum massaicum now called Cenchrus massaicus. Until such time as these new names become recognized in the horticultural trades, we have decided to continue to list this plant as Pennisetum massaicum.
This information about Pennisetum massaicum displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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