Ginger Love Fountain Grass has masses of beautiful plumes of red flowers with creamy white overtones rising above the foliage in mid summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its grassy leaves are green in color. Ginger Love Fountain Grass is an herbaceous perennial grass with a shapely form and gracefully arching stems. This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats.
Ginger Love Fountain Grass will grow to be about 26 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution.
Hardiness, sun, and water needs
Ginger Love Fountain Grass is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun. Tolerates part shade, but may not flower in too much shade. Tolerant of drought once established. Cut foliage to the ground in late winter before new shoots appear.
May be grown from seed and self-seeds in optimum growing conditions but cultivars do not come true from seed. Self-seeding can be aggressive. Pennisetum alopecuroides, commonly called fountain grass, is a warm season, clump-forming grass native to grassy hillsides, roadsides, and meadows in East Asia. Mature clumps will reach 2.5-5' tall with an equal spread. Features narrow, medium to deep green leaves (to 1/2" wide) in summer, changing to golden yellow in fall and fading to beige in late fall. Foliage usually remains attractive throughout the winter. Showy, silvery to pinkish-white, bristly, bottle brush-like flower spikes arch outward from the clump in late summer like water spraying from a fountain (hence the common name).
Flower spikes turn brownish as the seeds form, and spikes usually persist until late fall or early winter before shattering. Many excellent fountain grass cultivars are available in commerce, ranging in height from 1-4' and featuring a variety of different flower colors (purples, pinks or whites) and autumn foliage. Genus name comes from the Latin penna meaning "feather" and seta meaning "bristle" in reference to the flowers having long, feathery bristles. Specific epithet means "resembling Alopecurus", a genus of grass commonly called foxtail grass.
'Ginger Love' was introduced in 2013 by Intrinsic Perennial Gardens of Hebron, Illinois. Chosen for its intermediate size, it has thick red flower clusters and grows 2 to 3 ft. in height and width. No serious insect or disease problems. Specimen, group or mass. Foliage and attractive flower spikes of this ornamental grass provide excellent texture, color and contrast to borders, foundations and open areas. Also grows well in moist locations such as peripheries of water gardens, ponds or streams.
Ornamental Grass is a term used to include not only true grasses but close relatives such as sedges, rushes, hardy bamboo and others. But not turf (lawn) grasses. Ornamental grasses are adaptable to a wide range of soils and require little effort to maintain. Some are great for drier areas while others are able to withstand moist, boggy conditions. Grasses come in many heights, growth habits, colors and textures. Their seed heads and foliage add fall and winter interest; some prized for their indoor decorative use. Leave the old dry foliage intact during winter to provide a different accent to the landscape.
Use as groundcovers, vertical specimen plants, erosion control, and striking mass plantings. Taller varieties are especially beautiful while a breeze is blowing. Prepare the area for planting by conditioning the soil. Dig a hole 2 times the width of the root ball and a depth slightly less than the height of the root ball. For container grown plants, carefully remove plant by squeezing container and slowly removing the root ball. Never pull on the plant trunk. Instead let the root ball slide out by tipping the container. If the plant is heavily rooted, loosen roots by gently pulling a few away from the root ball. This encourages stronger root growth.
Set root ball in hole making sure the top of the root ball is slightly higher (1/2 inch) than ground level. Place soil mix under root ball if too low. For bare root plants, trim any broken, twisted or discolored tips. Determine the original soil line by the change in color on the plant trunk. Set the plant in the hole so the soil line is above the surrounding soil. Space the roots evenly. Water thoroughly to settle the soil around the plant. Add more soil mix around plant if necessary after watering. Fertilize just before and during the plants active growing cycle. Choose an all-purpose fertilizer recommended for flowering and/or foliage plants. Frequency will depend on the type of fertilizer. When using granular fertilizer be sure to sprinkle fertilizer pellets away from the plant stems or trunk to prevent possible burning and always water thoroughly after application. This dissolves or releases the fertilizer into the soil.
Care and pruning of fountain grass
Evergreen ornamental grasses should be groomed in early spring. When ornamental grasses become too large they can be divided. Use proper tools such as shears and hand pruners. New plants require more frequent watering than established plants. For large plants; build a soil ring around the plant to use as a water reservoir. Don't water at night if possible. Plants in containers may require more frequent watering than plants in the ground. Add a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around plant to maintain and conserve soil moisture.
Planting and care basics include selecting a site with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun, ensuring well-draining soil, and spacing plants 1 to 4 feet apart depending on variety. Loosen the soil to improve drainage, remove the grass from its nursery container and tease out roots if potbound, and set the plant with the top of the root ball level or slightly higher than the surrounding soil to allow for settling. Backfill, water well, and continue regular watering until established.
Soil should be well-drained; fountain grass tolerates a wide range of soils. In containers, use a high quality all-purpose potting mix with adequate drainage. Fertilizing is minimal; in spring mulch around the base with compost to replenish nutrients. Find more on caring for ornamental grasses and explore different varieties to suit garden design goals.
Varieties and landscape uses
Fountain grass comes in a range of sizes and colors. Try some of these varieties in your yard: Annuals such as Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’) provide deep bronze-purple foliage and arching plumes in a warm season. Perennials such as Prairie Winds® ‘Lemon Squeeze’ and ‘Desert Plains’ offer chartreuse leaves with coppery plumes and fall color. These grasses work well in borders, containers, slopes for erosion control, or as focal mass plantings. They are hardy in zones 5-9 depending on cultivar.
The Latin genus name Pennisetum derives from penna meaning "feather" and seta meaning "bristle," referencing the long feathery bristles of the flower plumes. The species and cultivar selection determines height, color, and flowering performance, so consult labels for zone hardiness and growth expectations before planting.
Fountain grass FAQs
- When to plant fountain grass? Perennial fountain grass can be planted from spring to early summer, in late summer, or as late as early fall. Wait until all danger of frost has passed in spring.
- When to cut back fountain grass? Plants can be cut back in fall or in late winter to early spring before new growth emerges.
- Does fountain grass come back every year? Perennial varieties return if hardy in your zone; annuals die in winter and must be replanted.
- How big does fountain grass get? Dwarf types 1-2 feet; larger varieties can reach 4-6 feet tall.
- Is fountain grass a sun or shade plant? It is a full sun plant; 6-8 hours of direct sun is best.
- Where is the best place to plant fountain grass? Full sun and well-drained soil.
- Is fountain grass invasive? It is listed as invasive in some states; breeders select non-heavy reseeders for most varieties.
- Is fountain grass a perennial? Some species are perennial in warm regions; others are annuals elsewhere.
- How fast does fountain grass grow? Dwarf types are slow; larger types grow quickly in a season.
Note on container planting
Ginger Love can be grown alone or as part of mixed container plantings. Its size makes it suitable for large pots and for use as a thriller or filler element in combination planters. When grown in containers, ensure adequate drainage and regular watering, adjusting for heat and container size.