Pennisetum Lumen Gold™
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Pennisetum Lumen Gold™: Gold-Leaved Fountain Grass With Real Glow
Bright gold in spring, lemon-lime in summer, gold and orange in fall. This fountain grass changes outfits more often than a bridesmaid at a destination wedding. THE WARDROBE BUDGET IS UNLIMITED.
Plant Characteristics:
- Botanical Name: Pennisetum alopecuroides 'JS Jommenik'
- Common Name: Fountain Grass
- Height: 30–60 cm (1–2 ft) in flower
- Spread: 60–90 cm (2–3 ft)
- Flowers: Light, airy plumes in soft tan to creamy white, held above the foliage
- Bloom Time: Late summer to fall (August to October)
- Foliage: Bright gold in spring, fading to lemon and lime green in summer, gold and orange in fall
- Features: Colourful foliage
Where to Plant: Use it to brighten the front of a sunny border, edge a path or fill a container with spring colour. Three or five planted together make a glowing drift.
Companion Plants: Use the gold spring blades of Lumen Gold™ in a sunny or lightly shaded bed with white phlox and purple pinks. Phlox subulata 'Snowflake' carpets the front at 10 to 15 cm with white flowers in April and May. Dianthus Rockin'™ Purple adds fringed purple clusters at 45 to 60 cm from June to September. Echinacea 'White Swan' brings white coneflowers at 60 to 90 cm from July to September. Baptisia Decadence® Deluxe 'Pink Lemonade' adds lemon-to-pink spikes at 105 to 120 cm from May to July.
Plant Care: Grow it in full sun to part sun in average, well-drained soil. Full sun brings the strongest gold. Avoid wet spots, especially in winter, and set the crown at soil level. Water regularly through the first season, then during dry spells. Leave the foliage and plumes standing over winter. Cut back to about 5–10 cm (2–4 in) in early spring, just before new growth, so you get the full flush of gold. Divide in spring when the clump gets crowded. In zone 5, a sheltered, well-drained spot gives it the best chance through winter.
History: Lumen Gold™ was found at Jan Spruyt's nursery in Belgium as a gold-leaved sport of the fountain grass 'Gelbstiel'; its cultivar name is 'JS Jommenik'. The species, Pennisetum alopecuroides, is native to eastern Asia and Australia.
Final Thoughts: Drop it next to dark foliage and watch both of them look better. Deer won't bother it. INSTANT SPOTLIGHT.