Pennisetum messaicum: Red Bunny Tails

This perennial grass of African origin  forms a tidy clump 2ft high and 3ft wide that provides movement and  textural contrast for your garden. It works well as both as a single focal point or planted in drifts or groups if space allows. The foliage is an agreeable  glossy green with  discreet suggestions of burgundy .  The red toned fuzzy flower plumes are particularly alluring  if sited where they can be viewed backlit  by the morning  or evening sun. Blooms will appear in late spring and persist through the summer , fading to tan as fall approaches. Like many other fountain grasses, Bunny Tails can also make an effective container plant.

Although tolerant of both heat and drought , this plant will typically  look it’s best with regular irrigation. Maintenance  consists of cutting to the ground once a year in late winter before new spring growth begins; this can be easily accomplished with a good pair of hand- pruners or hedge shears.