Pennisetum orientale Tall Tails - Oriental Fountain Grass

Pennisetum orientale 'Tall Tails' is a tall variety of fountain grass, and also one of the most elegant and graceful. It forms an upright clump with a slightly loose habit. In early summer, long, slender, and supple spikes emerge. They are pale-pink and delightfully cottony, quickly turning snowy with silvery highlights. They tirelessly renew themselves high above the grey-green ribbon-like foliage and persist on the plant until the first frost. This superb perennial grass is hardy under most climates and tolerates dry soils well. It will make a statement in flower pots, in a modern setting, and in romantic or natural compositions. Its inflorescences are beautiful in dried bouquets. It thrives in well-drained soil, in full sun.

Pennisetum orientale is a non-running rhizomatous perennial plant native to central and southwestern 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. Under our climates, it reaches maturity within a few months from a young plant, allowing it to be grown as an annual. The cultivar 'Tall Tails' has a larger and looser habit than the type, and is also more floriferous. 'Tall Tails' forms a fountain of rough, ribbon-like foliage, 1.2m (4ft) tall when in bloom, with 60cm (24in) for the foliage, occupying about 40cm (16in) in diameter on the ground. Flowering takes place from July to October, longer if the autumn is mild and faded inflorescences are removed. The arching spikes gracefully droop above the foliage, carried by stiff stems. They are made up of tiny pink then white spikelets, gathered in narrow, fluffy panicles, 20 to 30cm (8 to 12in) long, covered in long silver hairs. As they fade, they take on a blonder hue and remain very decorative in winter. The foliage, when it persists, turns a tan yellow colour in winter.

Pennisetum orientale 'Tall Tails' is a sturdy, undemanding, and hardy plant, bringing a natural and soft feel to the garden. It is versatile, with its clean and elegant appearance, its ease of cultivation, and its undemanding nature. It is perfectly suited to sea spray and drought. It works well in dry gardens, in flower pots, and rockeries, combined with autumn or summer-flowering stonecrops. Plant it en masse along a pathway, or create romantic scenes with summer or autumn-flowering perennials such as hybrid mulleins, spike speedwells, shrubby salvias, asters, and Japanese anemones. It can be placed in the foreground, in front of a screen of dark and evergreen foliage (dwarf conifers, boxwood, viburnum, eleagnus), which will highlight its white inflorescences. In a white garden, it can be paired with coastal cinerarias, tree-like wormwoods, or buddleias with silver foliage (Buddleia 'Silver Anniversary', Buddleia alternifolia 'Argentea'). This grass remains decorative throughout winter, even when its flowers have dried. It can also be used as ground cover.