Cenchrus geniculatus, commonly known as Fountain Grass, is a deciduous perennial grass native to open grasslands and damp locations in Eastern and Southern Africa. It typically reaches a height and width of 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters), forming dense, mounded clumps. Fountain Grass is characterized by its arching foliage and bottlebrush-like flower spikes that appear in mid to late summer. The flowers start off with a purple hue and fade to a straw color, providing visual interest throughout the season. The plant’s graceful form and the movement it adds to the landscape are highly valued by gardeners.

Fountain Grass is popular in ornamental gardens for its ease of maintenance and the texture it adds to borders and beds. It is often used as a specimen plant, in mass plantings, or as a naturalistic element in garden design. This grass thrives in full sun and requires medium amounts of water, with a preference for well-drained soils. While it is not known for significant disease issues, it can self-seed and become invasive in some areas, so gardeners should monitor its spread.CC BY-SA 4.0