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Pennisetum alopecuroides
  • Chinese Fountain Grass

a perennial deciduous member of the Pennisetum genus in the family Gramineae.

248px
Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Pennisetum alopecuroides has 0 edible uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - cooked. It can be ground into a powder and used as a flour[1]. An emergency food, used when all else fails[2].

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

Plants form impenetrably dense clumps and when planted close together in drifts make an excellent ground cover[3]. They are best spaced about 45cm apart each way[4].
There are no material uses listed for Pennisetum alopecuroides.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Pennisetum alopecuroides.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 3 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Pennisetum alopecuroides. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a light well-drained soil in a sunny position[5]. Succeeds in dry soils and, once established, tolerates drought[6].

This species is only hardy in the mild areas of Britain[5]. Plants are growing well at Cambridge botanical gardens, which is certainly not one of the milder areas of the country[K]. There are many named varieties selected for their ornamental value[3].

Plants do not flower freely in Britain except in warm sunny autumns[4]. Older clumps are more shy of flowering than young clumps[4].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Pennisetum alopecuroides. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Pennisetum alopecuroides.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Genus
Pennisetum
Family
Gramineae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2]
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[3][4]
Botanic
[7][3][8]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
Soil surface
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
deciduous
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
1.5 x 0.5 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Wind
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

"image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






References

  1. ? 1.01.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons ISBN 0-460-12609-1 (1990-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.1 Grounds. R. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm ISBN 0-7470-1219-9 (1989-00-00)
  6. ? Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent ISBN 0460045512 (1982-00-00)
  7. ? Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution (1965-00-00)
  8. ? [Flora of China] (1994-00-00)

"image:Pennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Pennisetum_alopecuroides&oldid=79164"
Facts about "Pennisetum alopecuroides"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyGramineae +
Belongs to genusPennisetum +
Functions asGround cover +
Has binomial namePennisetum alopecuroides +
Has common nameChinese Fountain Grass +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partSeed +
Has edible useUnknown use +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has fertility typeWind +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone7 +
Has imagePennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has mature height1.5 +
Has mature width0.5 +
Has primary imagePennisetum alopecuroides (aka).jpg +
Has search namepennisetum alopecuroides + and chinese fountain grass +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy namePennisetum alopecuroides +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Inhabits ecosystem nicheSoil surface +
Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedYes +
PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Pennisetum alopecuroides +