Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’
Overview
Uses: Mixed borders, mass plantings, edging, outdoor containers, and specimen use.
Benefits: A proven compact fountain grass that forms a graceful mound of fine green foliage topped with creamy white, bottlebrush plumes from midsummer into fall. Foliage turns golden in autumn.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Hardy Perennial
Growth Habit: Mounding, Arching — neat fountain of foliage.
Bloom Color: Creamy White to Tan
Foliage Color: Green, turning Golden in fall
Mature Height: 2–3 feet
Mature Width: 2–3 feet
Bloom Season: Midsummer to fall
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
The dependable dwarf fountain grass that gardeners have planted for decades.
Hameln forms a soft, rounded fountain of fine green blades about two to three feet tall and wide. From midsummer into fall, it sends up dozens of creamy white, bottlebrush plumes that arch out over the foliage like a spray of water, then ripen to tan as the season goes on.
The show continues after bloom. In fall the leaves turn golden, then a warm straw color that holds, along with many of the plumes, through much of the winter. That long season of interest, from the first plumes in July to the last of the winter foliage, is a big part of why it has stayed a standard.
Its medium size makes it one of the most versatile grasses for home gardens. Repeat it along a walk, mass it on a sunny slope, use it to soften the edge of a patio, or mix it with coneflowers, sedum, and Russian sage in a border. It also does well in a large container.
Care
Hameln Fountain Grass Care
Plant in full sun. Strong light gives the fullest mound and the most plumes; in shade the clump stays thinner and blooms less.
Fountain grass grows in most average, well-drained soils. Avoid spots where water stands in winter, which can rot the crown.
Water deeply once a week through the first growing season while roots establish. Established clumps handle short dry spells well but look best with water during long droughts.
Fertilizer is rarely needed. In poor soil, a light application of a slow release fertilizer in spring is enough.
Leave the foliage standing through winter; it helps protect the crown. In early spring, before new growth appears, cut the clump back to three or four inches. If the center thins after several years, divide the clump in spring. In some regions fountain grass can seed into nearby beds; removing the plumes in late fall limits seedlings.
Growing in Containers
Its tidy mound works well as the centerpiece of a large container. Use a pot with open drainage and a quality potting mix. Container plants dry out faster than plants in the ground, so check moisture often in warm weather, and feed lightly each spring, since frequent watering washes nutrients out of the mix. Roots in containers experience greater cold exposure than roots in the ground. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Hameln Fountain Grass for Sale Online?
Our Hameln Fountain Grass ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or cut back in the off-season, so they may arrive without green foliage. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Hameln Fountain Grass Grow?
Expect about 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide at maturity, in a rounded, arching mound. Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart for a mass planting or a soft edging.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is most often called dwarf fountain grass, and is also sold as Chinese fountain grass.
How is it different from Little Bunny fountain grass?
Both are compact forms of the same species. Hameln is the larger of the two at about 2 to 3 feet, with a fuller mound and longer plumes, while Little Bunny stays around 12 to 18 inches. Choose Hameln for the middle of a border or a mass planting, and Little Bunny for edging and small pots. For more choices, see our Ornamental Grasses.
Why is it slow to come up in spring?
Fountain grass is a warm-season grass. It stays dormant until the soil warms in mid to late spring, then grows quickly. A clump that still looks bare in April is normal.
Do deer eat fountain grass?
Deer rarely bother fountain grass. No plant is completely deer-proof, but it is a dependable choice for sunny beds with deer pressure. See more Deer-Resistant Perennials and Grasses.
