‘First Knight’ Purple Fountain Grass
Pennisetum ‘First Knight’
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-11 Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Perennial Grass – Annual in zones north of 7a
Height at Maturity: 4 to 4.5′
Width at Maturity: 2-3′
Spacing: 30″ for mass plantings, 5’+ for space between plants
Spacing: 30″ for mass plantings, 5’+ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Grassy, Upright, Arching
Growth Rate: Fast
Flower Color: NA
Flower Size: NA
Flowering Period: NA
Flower Type: NA
Fragrant Flowers: NA
Foliage Color: Blackish Purple
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: No
Berry Color: NA
Sun Needs: Full Sun, Afternoon Sun w/Morning Shade, Morning Sun w/Afternoon Shade
Water Needs: Average
Soil Type: Clay(amended), Loam, Sandy(amended), Silty(amended)
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well-Drained
Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.0
Maintenance / Care: Low
Attracts: Visual Attention
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Dry Soil, Heat, Humidity, Insect
Description
Yet another new cold hardy purple fountain grass from the breeding program at the University of Georgia, ‘First Knight’ was selected by Dr. Wayne Hanna for its extremely dark, blackish-purple foliage. This handsome fella grows in an upright clump with arching sword-like foliage to about 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. First Knight is super heat tolerant in the deep South but also cold tolerant as far north as USDA Zone 7a. Can be grown as an annual and/or grown in pots that can be overwintered indoors in zones north of 7a. Unrivaled texture, form and color among perennial grasses!
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide in an elegant clump of wide, very deep purple arching leaves, ‘First Knight’ Fountain Grass is a superb accent, grouping or natural hedge for summer color in the sunny landscape borders or large containers. A fine addition to ornamental grass gardens and the texture and color provides wonderful contrast when used beside brightly colored flowers, leafy shrubs, trees, and perennial plants. Especially attractive around boulders and bodies of water. In zones where it’s an annual, it makes a great centerpiece or background plant in annual flower beds.
Spacing: 30 inches apart for mass plantings; 5 feet or more apart for space between plants
How To Measure Total Square Feet Of A Planting Area
How Many Plants Needed To Cover A Planting Area?
Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Zone 7a, where this Pennisetum variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.
Growing Preferences
First Knight Fountain Grass is easy to grow when planted right, and in the right spot. It adapts to most soil types, provided the soil is well drained, and likes full sun to mostly sun. It’s drought tolerant when established, however will appreciate some water during extended periods without rain. As with many other plants, a constantly soggy or wet soil can be problematic. Cut foliage back to an inch or two above the ground before or right when new growth begins to emerge in spring.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Pennisetum Fountain Grasses.
How To Plant Pennisetum Fountain Grasses
How To Fertilize, Water & Prune Pennisetum Fountain Grasses
How To Measure Square Feet of A Planting Area
Determining How Many Plants To Fill A Planting Area
Plant Long & Prosper!
Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff
Questions? Contact Us!
Our First Knight Fountain Grass was delivered quickly and extremely well packaged. The plant is beautiful, healthy and looks exactly as shown online. We’re Very Satisfied with our purchase and highly recommend Wilson Bros.————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
We had this grass last year from a Greenhouse in NW Ohio……2 large pots . Absolutely beautiful…….this year can’t be found. Loved it but so cold here (and it wasn’t planted in the ground) so of course didn’t winter well. Would love to find it again this year. Beautiful, tall and striking in color.——————————-So sorry we are Out of Stock right now. You can put your name on the waiting list and we will contact you when it’s available. I hope this is helpful. Have a great day! Beth | WBG



















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