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GENERAL
Origin
:
Mediterranean,
sub-tropical
Vigour
:
fairly fast
growing
Humidity
:
very arid, semi-
arid, semi-humid,
very humid
Propagation :
sowing and
pricking out,
division
Maintenance :
low
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
resistant
Dessication :
resistant
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
low
Salinity/ppm :
very high (6000
ppm)
Hardiness
:
-6°C
SHAPE
Type
:
grasses
Height
:
0.9 m-1.2 m
Spread
:
1.2 m-1.5 m
Foliage
:
evergreen
FLOWER
Colour
:
pastel white
Size
:
15 cm - 20 cm
Period
:
June - September
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
caryopsis
Fruit size
:
0.3 cm
Pennisetum setaceum is called by its common name Fountain Grass, while in Arabic it is often
referred to as halfah. Its area of distribution ranges from northern Africa, to tropical Africa, the
Arabian peninsula, the Middle East and southwest Asia. This perennial grass grows between 90
cm and 1.2 metres high, with a spread of up to 1.5 metres. The flowers arrive in early summer
as spikes up to 20 cm long. This grass is a very attractive ornamental plant that requires only
low maintenance. Occasionally, pruning will densify the clump and cause it to rejuvenate better.
Propagation is recommended by seeds and through division. Fountain Grass can be used in open
country, for hillside planting and as a slope or bank stabiliser. In urban planting design, it is well
known in many locations in Arriyadh. In King Fahd Road, the Murabba Parks, Wadi Hanifah
and also in many private gardens, Fountain Grass is a long-time favourite because it provides
light and beautiful images as groundcover, linear planting and grouped or massed planting. Ano-
ther variety, Pennisetum setaceum ‘Cupreum’, is not as hardy as the green variety, but just as
attractive. Its leaves are dark or purple-red, and the flower spikelets are light pink. More sheltered
situations such as the Diplomatic Quarter and the Tuwaiq Palace inner garden are good locations
for its use, where it is not so exposed to occasional frosts. Soil and irrigation requirements are
comparable to those of the main species, i.e. very low, but stagnant water is not well tolerated.
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Pennisetum setaceum,
Poaceae
Fountain Grass,
halfah