Chinese fountain grass is a clumping herbaceous perennial plant in the grass family (Poaceae) native to Asia and Australia, and is found in open grasslands and savannas. The Latin specific epithet, alopecuroides, means "like the genus Alopecurus (foxtail)". Chinese fountain grass grows in clumps 2 to 4 feet tall and wide and prefers a full sun position in dry to moist, well-drained soils. It will tolerate partial shade, but flowering is best in full sun. This plant is highly resistant to deer grazing, is slightly salt-tolerant and drought-tolerant once established. Cut the foliage to the ground in late winter. Propagation is by seed or division of clumps. In mid-summer to fall bottlebrush-like flower spikes appear that transition from green to reddish-purple to.a golden brown on arching stems. The leaves are linear, arching, up to 20 inches long and turn yellow or tan in fall to winter. Chinese fountain grass can spread rapidly by seeds carried by wind or by attaching to clothes or fur. It has escaped gardens and has become problematic in some areas of the country. The Infertile Collection was developed at the University of Georgia. These are bred specifically to be sterile and safe for landscapes. See the four listed sterile cultivars. See native alternatives listed to the left. Use sterile cultivars in borders or groups in Asian, cutting or drought- tolerant gardens Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Weedy. Quick ID Hints: Clumping erect grass with arching green-brown leaves Inflorescence a reddish-brown raceme of spiklets Bottlebrush raceme reddish brown Spiklets awned with bristles VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. NOTE the plant currently known as Cenchrus alopecuroides was formerly known as Pennisetum alopecuroides.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Similar, less problematicPanicum virgatum 'Cloud Nine'Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping; Erect; Mounding
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves grow near the base of stems, are alternate, simple, sheathing, linear, scabrous, bright green, and are 4 to 20 inches long and .25" wide. There is a tuft of hairs at the base of the leaves. Amber yellow fall color.
Fall color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gray/Silver; Green; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Good Dried; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower detail
Inflorescence is a raceme of spikelets that are elongated cylindrical resembling a bottlebrush or fox tail. Spikelets yellow-green to reddish-brown, or silvery pink, and have 1-2 flowers. Bracts are awned with elongate bristle.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The seed is in the form of brown grain, which breaks open after a hard freeze and naturalizes readily. Wind-blown or attaches to clothes or fur by hooks.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Upright to arching stems that grow up to 2-4 feet tall.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
East Asia, Western Australia
Wildlife value
Attracts birds
Attracts
Songbirds
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cutting Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden