Pennisetum alopecuroides

Common Name:
Swamp Foxtail Grass

Description:
Pennisetum alopecuroides, commonly known as Swamp Foxtail Grass, is a graceful, clumping ornamental grass native to East Asia and parts of Australia. It is prized for its arching, fountain-like habit and soft, fluffy flower heads that resemble a fox’s tail. These bottlebrush plumes emerge in late summer and persist well into autumn, ranging in colour from silvery-green to pinkish-purple, eventually fading to a golden wheat tone as they age. The narrow green foliage also adds seasonal interest, turning golden-bronze in autumn before dying back in colder climates. Ideal for Melbourne gardens, this hardy perennial thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers moist, well-drained soils, but also copes with short dry spells once established. It’s an excellent choice for mass planting, borders, coastal gardens, and contemporary landscapes, offering movement, softness, and low maintenance appeal. The plumes are also popular for use in floral arrangements.

Form:
*Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding

Mature Size:
*Height: 60 cm – 1.2 metres
*Width: 60 cm – 1 metre

Aspect:
*Full Sun
*Part Shade

Flowering:
*Flowers in Summer
*Flowers in Autumn

Flower Colour:
*Silvery-green
*Pinkish-purple
*Wheat-golden (as flowers mature)

Key Attributes:
*Drought Tolerant
*Frost Tolerant
*Suitable for Pots
*Perennial
*Herbaceous
*Low Maintenance
*Ideal for Borders and Mass Planting
*Good Cut Flower / Dried Flower
*Seasonal Foliage Colour
*Wind Tolerant
*Suitable for Coastal Gardens
*Non-invasive (clump forming)

Toxicity:
*Non-toxic to humans
*Non-toxic to pets

Companion Plants:
*Salvia nemorosa
*Sedum ‘Matrona’
*Gaura lindheimeri
*Rudbeckia hirta
*Miscanthus sinensis