Pennisetum 'Moudry'

Pennisetum 'Moudry': Almost-Black Plumes, Fashionably Late

Most fountain grasses go soft and pastel. 'Moudry' shows up in dark purple-black plumes like it's heading to a poetry reading in a leather jacket. THE GOTH OF THE GRASS BED.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Moudry'
• Common Name: Black Fountain Grass
• Height: 75–90 cm (2.5–3 ft) in flower
• Spread: 75–90 cm (2.5–3 ft)
• Flowers: Dark purple-black bottlebrush plumes that age to tan and silvery buff
• Bloom Time: Late summer to fall (August to October)
• Foliage: Wide, glossy deep green blades that turn golden yellow in fall
• Features: Unusual dark flowers, good for cutting and drying

Where to Plant: Use it where you want late-season drama: a sunny border, a mass planting or a big container. The dark plumes stand out best against lighter partners, and they earn a spot in a cut-flower bed for fresh or dried arrangements.

Companion Plants: Use dark-plumed 'Moudry' in a sunny, dry bed with red dwarf iris, white lavender and rattlesnake master. Delosperma 'Jewel of Desert Garnet' carpets the front at 10 to 15 cm with red-orange flowers from May to September. Iris pumila 'Lady in Red' opens soft red dwarf iris at 30 cm in May and June. Lavandula 'Alba' adds fragrant white spikes at 35 to 60 cm from June to September. Eryngium yuccifolium brings greenish-white globes at 90 to 150 cm from July to September.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun in average, well-drained soil. Avoid soggy spots, especially through winter. Water regularly the first season, then only during long dry spells. 'Moudry' can self-seed, and the seedlings may not look like the parent. If you don't want volunteers, cut off the plumes in late fall. Otherwise leave the clump standing for winter and cut it back to about 10 cm (4 in) in early spring. It's on the edge of its hardiness in zone 5, so give it a warm, sheltered spot with sharp drainage. Divide in spring when the centre thins.

History: 'Moudry' is a selection of Pennisetum alopecuroides, the fountain grass native to eastern Asia and Australia. It's known for its unusually dark flowers and blooms several weeks later than the typical species.

Final Thoughts: Cut the plumes for a moody dried arrangement that confuses every guest. Deer resistant. DARK FLOWERS, BRIGHT FUTURE.