Photo: Blackstem Plants

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Pennisetum macrourum 'Tail Feathers'

African feather grass

We love this grass and it's managed to overwinter in quite an exposed bed in our garden for the last few years. 

When fully grown it has an unrivalled elegance forming tall, dense clumps of slender erect foliage topped by pale green, bristly spikelets that turn pale brown to purple when mature. 

It's a deciduous perennial, native to Southern Africa and needs a warm, long summer to flower well. 

In winter, apply a good thick mulch around the crown to help it through the worst of the weather. 

Drainage plays a large part in stopping the roots rotting so prepare the planting hole accordingly. 

Another warm season grass so don't cut old foliage down until late spring. Deciduous.