Pennisetum orientale Karley Rose - Oriental Fountain Grass

Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose', also known as Oriental Fountain Grass, is a remarkable perennial grass admired for its elegance and graceful appearance. It bears an upright and arching clump, with a slightly loose habit. Soft and silky plume-like inflorescences emerge in early summer. They are a delicate white with a hint of pink, washed with purple. These inflorescences continuously renew themselves above ribbon-like green foliage, swaying in the wind until the first frosts. This superb improvement of Pennisetum orientale is hardy in most climates. This versatile grass adds a touch of unrestrained poetry to borders and can be used in modern and romantic or natural compositions in containers. The inflorescences are stunning in dried bouquets. It thrives in well-drained, moist to dry soil and full sun.

Pennisetum orientale is a rhizomatous perennial plant that is not invasive, originating from central and southwest Asia. It is deciduous to semi-evergreen, and hardy down to -15°C (5°F) in well-drained soil. It has a fairly rapid growth rate. In our climates, it reaches maturity within a few months from a young plant, making it suitable for cultivation as an annual. The 'Karley Rose' cultivar, discovered in 2005, has a larger and looser habit than the species and is also more floriferous. 'Karley Rose' forms a fountain of rough, ribbon-like foliage, reaching a height of 1.2m (4ft) when flowering, with 60cm (24in) for the foliage, occupying approximately 50cm (20in) in diameter at ground level. The flowering period lasts from July to October, longer if the autumn is mild and faded inflorescences are removed. The arching flower spikes gracefully drape above the foliage, supported by stiff stems. They consist of tiny pale-pink to purple-pink spikelets, arranged in narrow, fluffy panicles, 20 to 30cm (8 to 12in) long, covered in long silvery hairs. When they fade, they turn a lighter shade and remain highly decorative during winter.

Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose' may not be the most well-known of the pennisetums, but it is a robust, undemanding, and hardy plant that thrives almost anywhere, and has been consistently popular among both professional and amateur gardeners. It is versatile, offering a clean and elegant appearance, as well as being easy to grow and undemanding. It is perfectly suited to coastal areas and drought conditions, making it useful in dry gardens, as well as in containers or rockeries, paired with autumn stonecrops. Plant it en masse along pathways, or create romantic displays with summer or autumn-flowering perennials such as hybrid mulleins, spike speedwells, shrubby salvias, and of course, asters and Japanese anemones. This grass can also be used as ground cover.