Pennisetum – Red Bunny Tails – Fountain Grass – Pennisetum messiacum

Dead-Heading Not Necessary

Grass

Heat Tolerant

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.

Uses Notes

Use in beds, borders and large containers

Maintenance Category Easy

Water Category Average

Bloom Time

Flower Form Container, Cut Flower, Dried Flower, Grass, Landscape

pH B - pH 5.8 - 6.2

EC (2:1 Extraction Method) 0.6 - 0.9

Fertilization 100 - 150

Light Requirements High

Water Requirements Moderate to Moist

Rooting Out Temperature 65 - 72° Fahrenheit

Growing On Temperature 70 - 75° Fahrenheit

Holding Temperature 40 - 50° Fahrenheit

Planting and Timing Information

Spring to Fall Sales. Standard PPP.

Finishing Times [weeks]
4-5" and Quart Pot : 4-8
6" and Gallon Pot : 6-9
7-9" Pot : 8-10
10-12" and Two Gallon Pot : 10-14

Pinching and Growth Regulators

No pinching or growth regulators needed.

Pest and Disease Management

General pest and disease practices as listed in notes.

Grower Tips

Upright Arching.