Plants in genus cenchrus
Cenchrus setaceus
Cenchrus setaceus, commonly known for its dark burgundy-red foliage, is an ornamental grass that produces one-foot long red plume-like inflorescences. It grows up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide, thriving in full sun and well-draining soil. This plant is moderately drought and heat resistant, making it suitable for USDA zones 9-11. Its foliage turns tan-bronze in fall and winter, adding seasonal interest to gardens. The airy purple-tan plumes provide a soft, feathery texture to landscapes.
Cenchrus americanus
Cenchrus americanus, formerly known as Pennisetum glaucum, is a heat- and drought-tolerant plant with deep purple, corn-like leaves and an 8-12 inch purple flower spike. It is a multi-stemmed plant that grows 3-5 feet tall and was awarded the All-America Selections Gold Medal in 2003.
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus is a compact, clump-forming perennial grass known for its finely textured dark green foliage and small, feathery plumes that appear in summer. This drought-tolerant grass thrives in various soil types and is deer resistant, making it a versatile choice for gardens. It attracts birds and is ideal for small or rock gardens due to its dwarf size, staying under 8 inches tall. The plumes, which rise just above the foliage, add a delicate touch to its appearance. Developed as a sterile ornamental hybrid, it requires full sun for optimal foliage color. The grass forms clumps that can reach up to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide, with plumes that transition from violet pink to silver. Its extended flowering season, due to sterility, provides interest from midsummer into fall.
Cenchrus setaceus 'Rubrum'
Cenchrus setaceus 'Rubrum' is an ornamental grass with tall stems and foot-long burgundy plumes. Its rich purple foliage turns golden with age, forming a fountain-like shape. This drought and heat-resistant plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and is rarely damaged by deer. It is a perennial in zones 9-11 and an annual in cooler zones, adding dramatic color and texture to landscapes.
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Piglet'
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Piglet' is a warm-season grass that forms a 1-2 foot tall and wide ball of spiky green foliage. It is more floriferous than Little Bunny Pennisetum and produces pinkish-white plumes in late summer, turning creamy white.
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Desert Plains'
Desert Plains Fountain Grass is a hardy and graceful ornamental grass with a vase-shaped clump of green leaves tipped with red. It produces striking 5-inch mauve plumes in early fall, transitioning to bronze foliage in winter. This drought-resistant plant is suitable for USDA zones 5 to 9 and requires full sun and well-drained soil. It is also deer resistant and should be pruned in early spring.
Cenchrus purpureus
Cenchrus purpureus, discovered in Oceanside, California, is a tall grass reaching up to 10 feet by the end of the season. It features bamboo-like canes and large, corn-like foliage, topped with cattail-like flower heads in late October. This plant is deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Burgundy Bunny'
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Burgundy Bunny' is a warm-season dwarf fountain grass with fluffy silver flower spikes and leaves that turn deep red in fall. This compact plant is versatile for edging and borders, requiring low moisture once established. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and adds vibrant color to any landscape.
Cenchrus pilcomayensis
Cenchrus pilcomayensis is an ornamental grass from Argentina, known for its sturdy, wire-like, glaucous stems that can grow up to 7 feet tall. It features bronzy plumes that appear from mid-June to September, providing an architectural form even in winter after the leaves drop. This grass is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, making it a resilient choice for gardens. It thrives in sunny locations and can be used in xeriscaping or as a striking feature in cottage gardens.
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Little Bunny'
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Little Bunny' is a compact ornamental grass known for its silvery puffball plumes that bloom from August to October. It has a fine texture and golden fall color, thriving in full sun but tolerating partial shade. This grass is deer resistant and requires well-drained soil.
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Redhead'
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Redhead' is a warm-season ornamental grass with 5-inch long red-violet plumes that turn silver in fall. It features fine-textured yellow-green foliage that turns golden in winter, thriving in heat, drought, and full sun.
Cenchrus massaicus
Cenchrus massaicus, native to Kenya, is an ornamental grass forming a 2-foot tall and wide clump with narrow green foliage. It produces 3-foot tall reddish-brown plumes from midsummer to early fall, providing textural contrast in perennial borders and annual containers. This grass thrives in sunny locations and adds a unique element to garden landscapes.
Cenchrus orientalis 'Karley Rose'
Cenchrus orientalis 'Karley Rose' is a fast-growing ornamental grass with smoky rose-purple plumes that appear in June and last all summer. It is cold-hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9 and can be grown as an annual in colder zones. This low-maintenance plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a drought-resistant choice for gardens.
Cenchrus setaceus 'Fireworks'
Cenchrus setaceus 'Fireworks' is a variegated purple fountain grass with deep maroon-purple center veins and hot pink margins. It produces soft, fluffy 'foxtails' in late summer and is drought, heat, and humidity tolerant, thriving in USDA zones 9-10.
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Hameln'
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Hameln' is a compact ornamental grass, a smaller version of fountain grass, known for its wonderful plumes from summer through fall. It forms a tight clump with narrow, arching leaves and bristly, buff-colored seedheads. This drought-tolerant grass prefers full sun and is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9.
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Cassian'
Cenchrus setosus 'Cassian' is a compact perennial grass with pink-tinted bottlebrush blooms and attractive fall color. It is drought-tolerant and cold hardy, making it a resilient choice for gardens. This grass is resistant to deer and rabbits and can grow in full sun or partial shade.
Cenchrus orientalis
Cenchrus orientalis is a decorative perennial grass forming clumps with tufted panicles that are pale pink, maturing to brown. It grows up to 4.5 feet tall and requires a sheltered position with winter protection in colder areas. This heat-loving, deer-resistant grass adds texture and movement to gardens.