Pennisetum

(Fountain Grass) Alopecuroides Hameln

Pennisetum alopecuroides Hameln is a compact fountain grass with a neat, arching mound of narrow green leaves that turn golden yellow in autumn. From late summer it sends up soft, bottlebrush plumes in creamy white that fade to warm beige and catch the low light. It grows to about 50-60 cm in height and 50-60 cm in width, a little taller when the plumes are up. Plant 3-5 per square metre for a flowing band, or use a single plant in a large pot on the terrace. The plumes appear from August into October and hold their shape through frost, so the plant still looks good in midwinter. It is at its best along a path, in a gravel garden or woven between late flowering perennials.

Hameln needs full sun to flower well, in shade it makes leaves but very few plumes. Plant it in ordinary garden soil that drains freely, it dislikes heavy ground that stays cold and wet through winter far more than summer drought. Water it through the first growing season and during long dry spells, and check plants in pots regularly because they dry out much faster than open ground. Leave the plumes and old leaves standing all winter for structure, then cut the whole clump back to about 10 cm at the end of winter, before the new shoots appear. Be patient in spring, this grass starts into growth late, so do not assume it has died. It is fully hardy and needs no winter protection.

Your order will be hand picked and packed in our strong and sustainable packaging as soon as possible, after which it will be delivered straight from our greenhouse to your door by your chosen carrier. You can follow the journey of your plants via the tracking link you receive in your mail. If you have any questions regarding your order and its shipment, you can get in contact with our support team.

We expect every order to arrive in tip-top shape. We take intensive care of the plants in our greenhouse and use special and as sustainable as possible protective packaging to ship our plants. We also wrote an extensive blog about how to unpack and prepare your plants for growth after shipping. However there are rare occasions where our plants don’t meet their full potential. That’s why all plants are guaranteed for 30 days after arrival, if still in its original nursery pot.