Pennisetum 'Hameln'

Pennisetum 'Hameln': Compact Fountain With Fuzzy Foxtails

Fuzzy bottlebrush plumes in silvery white with a pink blush, bobbing like a row of kittens' tails. 'Hameln' is compact, tidy and impossible not to touch. PETTING IS ENCOURAGED.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'
• Common Name: Dwarf Fountain Grass
• Height: 50–70 cm (20–28 in) in flower
• Spread: 60–90 cm (2–3 ft)
• Flowers: Fuzzy, bottlebrush plumes in silvery white blushed pink, aging to tan
• Bloom Time: Late summer to fall (August to October)
• Foliage: Narrow, arching bright green blades that turn golden yellow to russet in fall
• Features: Holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit

Where to Plant: Its tidy size makes it easy to place: edge a path, line a sunny walkway or repeat it through the front half of a border. It also looks great in mass plantings and large containers, especially where low evening light hits the plumes.

Companion Plants: Agastache 'Mango Tango' pairs well with this dwarf grass, bringing orange spikes from July to September. Perovskia 'CrazyBlue' adds violet spires at 40 to 45 cm over the same weeks. Veronica 'Snow Candles' finishes the front with white spikes from July to September. It's a compact, sun-loving grouping that stays in scale with 'Hameln'.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun in average, well-drained soil. It tolerates some shade but flowers less. Set the crown at or slightly above soil level, because soggy soil can rot it, so avoid low spots in heavy clay. Water through the first season, then only during long droughts. Leave it standing through winter for structure and crown protection. In early spring, before new growth starts, cut the clump back to about 8–15 cm (3–6 in). If the centre starts to die out after a few years, divide it in spring.

History: 'Hameln' is the most widely sold cultivar of Pennisetum alopecuroides, a warm-season grass native to eastern Asia and Australia, and it reseeds less than many types. It holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Final Thoughts: Plant a row along the path and the whole street will follow it home. Deer stay away. NO FLUTE REQUIRED.