Fountain grass can either be cut back in the fall or in the spring, depending on how badly the winter weather ravages the foliage. Although these are spectacular when in plume, they were much too weedy in their reseeding tendencies in our garden. The other fountain grasses have not posed any problems with reseeding. Although pennisetum is extremely tolerant of adverse conditions, it prefers full sun or light shade and average garden soils. After seeing it growing on the sea coasts in Korea, I have a new appreciation for its salt tolerance.
Fountain grass has beautiful plumes that emerge in midsummer, resembling foxtails on sticks.
The early summer plumes were also quite a bit larger and a much richer pink than the species. Trials have revealed that P. 'Karley Rose' is also much hardier than typical P. orientale. Growing in the midst of a patch of regular P. orientale was this vigorous 3' tall selection, topped with lovely rich pink flowers. For us, P. o. 'Shogun' produces upright tan-pink plumes from June through October. This is a splendid addition to the pastel sections of the perennial border.