Red Fountain Grass Care Tips and History

How to Grow Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’ in Florida Landscapes

Looking for a bold, low-maintenance accent plant that adds motion, texture, and dramatic color? Red Fountain Grass might not steal the show like a flowering shrub—but it adds unbeatable structure and interest to any Florida garden.

With its arching burgundy foliage and fluffy coppery plumes, Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ is a fast-growing ornamental grass that thrives in heat, loves the sun, and plays well with other bold plants.

Let’s explore how to grow it, trim it, and use it in your next landscape project.

What Is Red Fountain Grass?

Red Fountain Grass is a warm-season ornamental grass known for:

Deep red to burgundy foliage
Copper-pink plumes in summer and fall
Upright, arching shape (3–4 feet tall and wide)
Drought tolerance and easy maintenance

Unlike traditional green turfgrass, this variety makes a statement—whether planted as a stand-alone feature or grouped as a border.

Types of Fountain Grass

There are tons of different types of fountain grass to choose from depending on what you need.

Some species only grow to be 12 inches tall, while others grow past 3 feet – making them too short to be privacy hedges.

The most common variety you see around Florida is called Hameln (P. alopecuroides ‘Hameln’). You’ll recognize it by its light tan color in the summer, and its pinkish brown in the fall.

This variety is a good choice if you live in the Midwest because it blooms earlier than the others. Here in Florida we have longer growing seasons so we can grow more exotic varieties.

Our focus today will be on Red Fountain Grass (P. setaceum ‘Rubrum’) which is known for its reddish foliage and fluffy flowers. It’s also one of the strongest growers, reaching up to 4 feet tall!

Other types of fountain grass that we might have in stock at our nursery include ‘Cassian,’ ‘Little Bunny,’ ‘Little Honey,’ and ‘Moudry.’

How to Identify Red Fountain Grass

You’ll know it by:

Red to reddish-green leaves
Plumes that are coppery-pink to purple in summer and fall
Clumping habit with arching stems (not invasive or spreading)
Typically no viable seed production—which is a bonus for maintenance

Dormant plants may resemble deer grass (Muhlenbergia regens), but Red Fountain Grass has wider, more colorful leaves and a fuller habit

Sun & Soil Needs

Red Fountain Grass is a full-sun plant. The more light it receives, the richer its color and the more abundant its blooms.

Requirement	Ideal Condition
Sunlight	Full sun (6–8+ hours daily)
Soil	Well-draining, moderately moist
Water	Weekly during dry spells; drought-tolerant once established
Wind	Shelter young plants from high wind

💡 For best color, avoid shade and keep the plant consistently watered during peak growing season.

Does Red Fountain Grass Come Back Every Year?

This question is one of the reasons we specified Red Fountain Grass. There are some varieties of fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) that are perennial. You’ll typically find these types in the Midwest.

The variety this article focuses on is actually an annual fountain grass (aka Pennisetum setaceum). The reason you won’t find Red Fountain Grass in the Midwest is because it will not survive the winter.

Red Fountain Grass should be treated as an annual where winter temperatures dip below 10°F.

Red Fountain Grass Hardiness

Let’s go ahead and break down the hardiness of this plant in a little more detail. It’s considered winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-10… which means it can’t handle a frost.

Ideally, it would be grown in a medium moisture environment, with well-drained soil in full sun.

In Florida, it will survive winter and is typically grown as if it were a perennial. Although species plants can be grown from seed each year new plants are typically purchased from nurseries like ours each spring for planting in the garden after last spring’s frost date.

Technically plants can be dug in fall, trimmed and overwintered in greenhouses or indoors in sunny cool areas, but many gardeners simply prefer to purchase new plants each spring.

Plants may need some staking or other support and should be sited in areas protected from strong winds. Provide consistent water throughout the growing season.

Is Red Fountain Grass a Perennial?

That depends on where you live.

In USDA Zones 9–10 (like most of Florida): Red Fountain Grass acts like a tender perennial and can survive year-round.
In cooler zones (below Zone 9): It is considered an annual and will not return after a freeze.

If you’re outside of Florida, expect to replant each year. In warm Florida regions, it will likely return—or at least reseed lightly enough to maintain.

Should Fountain Grass Be Cut Back In Winter?

The best time to trim Red Fountain Grass back is in the late winter or early spring. The exact timing is not as important as just making sure that you prune fountain grass back before it starts actively growing.

You want to avoid doing fountain grass pruning in the fall, as the plant has not yet died back all the way.

If you try to cut back fountain grass in the fall, you may cause it to go into a growth spurt, which will make it more vulnerable to the coming cold weather and will reduce its chances of surviving the winter.

How to Cut Back Fountain Grass

Pruning helps refresh the plant for spring and improves summer performance.

When to Trim:

Late winter to early spring
Do not prune in fall, or it may send out new growth vulnerable to cold

How to Prune:

Tie up the foliage into a bundle with twine
Cut 4–6 inches above the soil line using sharp shears or clippers
Discard or compost the trimmings

Pruning allows new foliage to emerge cleanly in spring and helps retain the plant’s signature “fountain” shape.

Suggest Uses For Fountain Grass in Florida Landscapes

Some of our landscape designs have included using fountain grass beside sun-loving prairie perennials like coneflowers and coreopsis.

Red Fountain Grass is incredibly versatile and adds height, color, and texture to all kinds of garden styles:

Accent plant in tropical or contemporary gardens
Border filler alongside coneflowers, coreopsis, or rudbeckia
Container thriller in large pots with trailing fillers below
Rock garden feature to soften hardscapes with movement
Naturalistic meadows when planted in loose clusters with annuals

Origin Story: How It Came to the U.S.

Originally from Africa, fountain grass seeds first arrived in the U.S. in 1880. It was cultivated for ornamental use in Tucson by the 1940s and spread rapidly due to its fast growth and low water needs.

While some fountain grasses are considered invasive in parts of the Southwest, P. setaceum ‘Rubrum’ is non-invasive and sterile, making it safe and manageable in Florida gardens.

FAQ: Red Fountain Grass

Does Red Fountain Grass come back every year?

Yes, in Zones 9–10 (Florida). In colder zones, it should be replanted annually.

Can it survive frost?

No. Red Fountain Grass is not frost-tolerant and will die back if exposed to freezing temps.

How tall does it grow?

Typically 3–4 feet tall and wide when mature.

Can I grow it in containers?

Absolutely. Just make sure your pot has good drainage and full sun exposure.

Where to buy Red Fountain Grass?

Take advantage of these Red Fountain Grass care tips by raising some plants of your own!

Visit our nursery at Troy Tropics and turn your backyard into an outdoor paradise.

Our team of greenery experts can help you decide on the best plants for your home.