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Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'

Chinese fountain grass 'Hameln'

AGM plants

AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available to buy
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form & colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
© RHS
Sold by 46 nurseries

  • Other common names Chinese fountain grass 'Hameln'

  • Family Poaceae

  • Genus Pennisetum can be annual or perennial, evergreen or deciduous grasses, clump-forming or spreading in habit, with linear leaves and narrow flowering panicles with conspicuous bristles

  • Details 'Hameln' is a clump-forming perennial grass with arching linear leaves and cylindrical panicles of bristly, purple-tinged spikelets in late summer

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Tufted

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H3

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Aspect South-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureWell-drained

  • SoilLoam, Chalk, Sand

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.5-1 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.5-1 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in a light, moderately fertile, well-drained soil. May need winter protection in colder areas

Propagation Propagate by seed sown in containers in a warm glasshouse in spring or by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types Flower borders and beds Cut Flowers Low Maintenance Cottage & Informal Garden

How to care

Pruning Remove dead foliage and old flowered stems in spring

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases Generally disease free

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