Fountain grass, Pennisetum setaceum, is a perennial grass native to Africa that grows 2 to 3 feet high and bears purple, pink or green flowers. Even if you’ve already had a frost or two (I certainly have! The feathery inflorescence is 12 inches long and occurs from early summer to frost. And like Miscanthus, it bears attractive seed heads. While the species Pennisetum setaceum is considered invasive to California, selective plant breeding has resulted in attractive cultivated varieties that are seedless or do not produce viable seed, including Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum', 'Fireworks' and 'Skyrocket'. The purple-pink or copper colored inflorescence of red fountain grass sits atop a hollow, 3-foot-long, nodding flower stalk. ), it’s probably not too late to save your purple fountain grass (Pennisetum x advena ‘Rubrum’, formerly P. setaceum ‘Rubrum’) from the cold.This beautiful grass, with reddish-purple foliage and foxtail-shaped flower spikes that dance in the slightest breeze, is a very popular summer garden and container plant. There is no risk in the North, because either the grass is not cold hardy (several grasses, such as purple fountain grass, are grown as annuals in the North and don’t survive the winter there) or because, even if the grass is hardy, its seeds fail to ripen in the North (the case with most miscanthus grasses). Some nurseries sell varieties that are said to be sterile, but many still produce small amounts of seeds that can remain viable for several years. Now while the purple fountain grass is a perennial, it is also considered somewhat short-lived. Of all the ornamental grasses, of which there are many, purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’) is probably one of the most popular.The purple or burgundy-colored foliage and soft, fuzzy-like blooms (which are followed by purplish seedheads) make a bold statement in the garden—on their own or grouped with other plantings. The fruits of this grass are small seeds that volunteer to form small plantlets nearby; this plant is considered mildly invasive. Purple fountain grass – Pennisetum setaceum “Rubrum” is an ornamental landscape grass known for its burgundy or purple leaf blades and soft, fuzzy like flowers. Pennisetum / ˌ p ɛ n ɪ ˈ s iː t əm / is a widespread genus of plants in the grass family, native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum) is an example of a plant that is in-between, height-wise, for this category. However, it is common for this grass to reseed itself with volunteer plantlets which may refill any areas otherwise vacated. They are known commonly as fountaingrasses (fountain grasses) Its foxtail plumes and striking burgundy foliage show up well when surrounded by contrasting plants. These three cultivars are non-invasive and safe for California gardening efforts. This herbaceous perennial grass is heat tolerant and grows well in poor soil. Like blue fescue, this deer-resistant ornamental grass is practically defined by its color (Rubrum means "red" in Latin).