thank you
Debbie

Don have you tried growing it as an annual? I may try that route if I can find the seed. I have looked at a few sites for seed - but I am a bit overwhelmed.

thank you for the insight
Debbie

Lots of folks grow it as an annual, because it's so attractive, but I'm a skinflint, and seldom buy plants.

inquiring minds would love to know!
A.

"Dr. Gilman, Could you please answer a question with regards to an extension fact sheet
that you authored ; Fact Sheet FPS-464 - October 1999

A large group of Ornamental Grass lovers have a forum on the Garden Web where we discuss growing,propagating and all other topics relating to
ornamental grasses.

A topic that comes up regularly is the hardiness of Pennisetum setaceum
'Rubrum' and whether it can or cannot be grown from seed. Recently this topic resurfaced and one of the participants referenced your Fact Sheet. Your hardiness information is quite useful. But, I still have questions about the self-sowing aspect of this grass. (In my zone (USDA 5) this
cultivar does not appear to produce any viable seed.)
In your fact sheet you say; "However, it will reseed itself into surrounding landscapes. This could present a problem under certain circumstances."Does the cultivar produce as much viable seed as the species?
Do the seedlings come true to the cultivar or do they resemble the species?"

"The spcies has been documented in central florida as escaping. I am not aware of reports of the cultivar excaping."
Ed gilman

So, once again I wonder .....

I think the fact that no commercial seed vendors offer seed for 'Rubrum' is a good indication that it's at least difficult, if not impossible to grow the cultivar from seed. It's a popular enough grass, that seed vendors would carry the seed if it would grow true 'Rubrum.'

I'm not sure there are any red or purple foliage grasses which can be grown from seed. I went through Jelitto's generous inventory, and the closest are the bronze colored Carex varieties, like C. buchananii and C. comans.

I'd be very leery of sources offering this seed for sale. There are very few other OG's (can't think of any at the moment) that demonstrate these particular restrictive characteristics and I think unscrupulous vendors are banking on the lack of understanding the public has to promote their dubious merchandise.

On a slightly different, but hopefully still on track topic...try Pennisetum Prince or Pennisetum Princess in zones too cold to grow Rubrum as a perennial grass. They are hardy (I believe) at least to zone 7...a solid 2 zones hardier than Rubrum. Great burgundy coloring...looks a bit more like a phormium to me than a pennisetum.

There's a fascinating account of their development and characteristics here.

Fountain grass is not quite what you get with these grasses, like I said, they look more like a phormium and you will not get the prolific blooming of a rubrum or a burgundy giant. Self-seeding is kind of a non-issue with these as well.

I'm positive that it won't be long till a hardy purple fountain grass is introduced. :)

Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' is not reliably hardy to zone 8. It may be the winter temperatures got your grasses, but they may also just be late starters. Tug lightly on the crown of the plant to see if you feel resistance. If the roots have a good hold on the soil, chances are the plants are ok. If not, they are goners.

FWIW...my Pennisetums (hardier varieties) are just starting to show growth. They are the second latest grasses to start for me, just a bit earlier than Panicum.

I've never had any of the reds live over here in Oregon, even in my greenhouse. Lost Fireworks this year. Not sure why I keep trying....