Purple Fountain Grass
Best low-maintenance ornamental for gardeners seeking vibrant, mess-free seasonal color.
Enhance your landscape with the striking Purple Fountain Grass, a Monrovia cultivar prized for its drought tolerance and vibrant appeal. This ornamental grass forms dense, clumping mounds of purplish-maroon foliage, crowned with elegant rose-red plumes. It offers a quick burst of annual color and is a beautiful choice for specimen plantings, mass arrangements, or containers. Unlike the species, this variety does not reseed, ensuring a tidy appearance. It thrives in full sun and is a low-maintenance addition to any garden, providing seasonal interest through its striking foliage and blooms.
$18.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.5
/ 5
Category Rank
1787
/ 3268
#1787 in Landscaping & Garden Plants
Price vs Category Average
-31%
Below average
Mature Height
4
/ feet
Who it's for
- Gardeners seeking high-impact, long-lasting seasonal color
- Busy homeowners wanting low-maintenance, heat-tolerant landscaping
- Designers looking for versatile, high-quality structural plants
Who should skip it
- Cold-climate gardeners avoiding annual replanting costs
- Eco-conscious gardeners worried about invasive self-seeding
- Low-effort gardeners avoiding seasonal maintenance tasks
Performance breakdown
Drought Tolerance
Resilient performance in dry conditions once the root system is established.
Maintenance Effort
Minimal upkeep required for a consistently tidy and polished garden aesthetic.
Visual Impact
Striking maroon foliage and rose-red plumes create an immediate focal point.
Growth Control
Non-reseeding habit prevents unwanted spread and keeps garden beds contained.
Versatility
Adapts seamlessly to container gardening, mass plantings, or standalone specimen displays.
Pest Resistance
Reliable deer resistance keeps your landscape looking pristine without extra protection.
Key Specs
Mature Height
4 feet
Mature Width
3 feet
Light Needs
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Water Needs
Medium
Foliage Color
Purple
Flower Color
Red
USDA Hardiness Zone
8
Features
- Drought tolerant once established
- Forms a tidy, dense clump
- Produces rose-red plumes
- Does not reseed
- Provides quick annual color
- Deer resistant
- Suitable for containers
- Low maintenance
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality and vibrant color of the Monrovia Purple Fountain Grass. Reviewers frequently highlight its reliability, noting how easily the plants establish themselves and thrive, quickly adding dramatic texture and deep burgundy hues to the landscape. The primary sentiment revolves around the plant's robust health upon arrival and its dependable performance throughout the growing season, making it a highly valued addition despite its premium price point.
Know before you buy
No, this specific cultivar is non-reseeding. It grows in a tidy, dense clump and will not spread through dropped seeds, making it a low-maintenance choice for controlled garden beds.
Yes, its clumping habit makes it an excellent choice for large containers. Ensure your pot has adequate drainage and is large enough to accommodate its mature width of 3 feet.
To achieve the most vibrant purplish-maroon foliage and consistent rose-red plumes, this grass requires full sun exposure. Planting it in partial shade may cause the foliage to lose its intensity and result in fewer blooms.
While no plant is completely immune to hungry wildlife, this variety is generally avoided by deer. Its coarse texture and growth habit make it a less appealing snack compared to more tender garden plants.
While it is drought-tolerant once established, it requires medium water needs during its first season to develop a healthy root system. After that, it can handle drier conditions, though occasional watering during extreme heat will keep it looking its best.
This cultivar is hardy in USDA zones 8 and above. If you live in a colder climate, it is best treated as an annual or moved into a protected, frost-free area during the winter months.
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$19