Purple Fountain Grass
Cenchrus setaceus
NEMBA: Category 1b
English: Purple Fountain Grass, Fountain Grass, Crimson Fountaingrass, Tender Fountain Grass
Synonyms, misapplied or old scientific names: Pennisetum setaceum
Graceful fountains of arching, feathery leaves, often tinged with purple, swaying gently in the breeze. That's Purple Fountain Grass. Its soft, bottlebrush-like flower spikes, usually pinkish-purple, add to its ornamental appeal. While it's widely planted for its beauty, it's an alien invasive in South Africa, that is spreading aggressively and threatening native plants.
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Origins: Native to North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.
Distinguishing features:
Leaves are long, narrow, and often have a purplish hue, especially when young.
Flower spikes are cylindrical, bottlebrush-like, and typically pinkish-purple.
The entire plant has a fountain-like, arching habit.
Produces many seeds that are easily dispersed by wind and animals.
Forms dense clumps.
Overall appearance: A tufted, perennial grass with an upright to arching habit.
Height: Typically grows to a height of 0.5 to 1.2 metres, but can reach up to 1.5 metres when in flower. Width: Can spread to about 0.6 to 1 metre wide.
Leaves: The leaves are linear and narrow, measuring 10 to 40 cm long and 0.3 to 0.8 cm wide. They are often a green or reddish-purple colour, with the intensity of the purple varying.
Flowers: The flowers are borne in dense, cylindrical, spike-like panicles (flower spikes) that are 10 to 30 cm long and about 2 to 3 cm wide. These spikes are usually pinkish-purple or reddish-purple and have a soft, feathery appearance due to the long bristles surrounding the spikelets.
Flowering season: Flowers primarily from summer to autumn in South Africa (November to May).
Fruits: The fruit is a small caryopsis (a type of single-seeded grain), enclosed within the persistent spikelets.
Seeds: The seeds are small and easily dispersed.
Stems: The stems (culms) are herbaceous.
Roots: Possesses a fibrous root system that can form dense mats.
Soil type: Adaptable to a wide range of soils, including poor, sandy, and rocky soils, but prefers well-drained conditions.
Aspect: Prefers full sun.
Ecology: While cultivated for its beauty, its prolific seed production and ability to grow in poor soils allow it to spread aggressively. It competes with native grasses and other plants, reducing biodiversity and altering fire regimes by providing a large amount of dry biomass. It is not a significant food source for native wildlife.
Distribution and habitat: Has become naturalised and invasive in several provinces of South Africa, including the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga. It is commonly found along roadsides, in disturbed areas, coastal regions, and invading natural grasslands and fynbos.
Derivation of name: The genus name Cenchrus is derived from the Greek word "kenchros," referring to millet. The species name setaceus means "bristly" in Latin, referring to the bristles on the flower spikes. The common name "Purple Fountain Grass" describes its colour and fountain-like growth habit.
Interesting facts:
It looks really pretty, but it's a bit of a bully when it comes to other plants!
Those feathery flower spikes are what make it so popular in gardens.
It can produce a huge number of seeds, which helps it spread to new areas quickly.
Even though it can grow in poor soil, it can still outcompete native plants that are adapted to those conditions.
It's a reminder that sometimes plants that look beautiful can cause big problems for the environment.
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Common name
Scientific Name
Plant type:
Grass or perennial
Plant family:
Poaceae (Greek plant name) - Order: Poales