Praline™ Fountain Grass

Praline™ Fountain Grass Adds Sweet Texture and Candied Color

A sterile, long-flowering Pennisetum, the Praline™ Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Tift H18') is a compact, cold-hardy charmer that brings fluffy texture, vivid color, and graceful movement to any sunny garden. This dwarf cultivar of Fountain Grass stays tidy and small, reaching just 1-3 feet tall, and pumps out soft, fuzzy bottlebrush blooms from mid to late summer, lasting into fall!

The tan-pink plumes sway in the breeze and pair beautifully with late-season perennials and warm-toned foliage. It's also a favorite for dried arrangements and cut flower enthusiasts. Those wheat-colored seed heads persist into winter, providing visual interest and a natural food source for birds

The foliage forms a neat mound of narrow, arching blades—emerald green through the growing season—that turn rich amber and copper shades in autumn! This variety was bred for superior compactness and is well-suited for USDA Zones 5–9.

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Key Features

• Dwarf variety of Fountain Grass, only 1-3’ tall and wide
• Fluffy, tan-pink bottlebrush plumes in late summer to fall add winter interest
• Attractive green foliage turns golden-bronze in autumn
• Praline™ is a sterile cultivar and does not self-seed
• Heat, humidity, and cold tolerant (Zones 5–9)
• Praline™ Fountain Grass is a warm-season grass

Landscaping Uses

Symbolically, Grasses often represent flexibility, abundance, and the rhythms of nature. With a fine-textured, elegant habit, Praline™ is a true treat for small gardens or containers and shines when massed along walkways where you want low-maintenance appeal and seasonal drama. Ornamental Grass is ideal for bringing texture and motion to small-space gardens or tight borders.

• Use in mixed borders for late-season flair
• Great in containers or raised planters
• Mass in drifts for a low, soft edging that is very low-maintenance and water-wise
• Pairs well with fall-blooming perennials and Asters
• Add to cottage garden and prairie garden designs for whimsy and color
• Ideal for pollinator or bird-friendly gardens
• Use in groundcover plantings where low height is a benefit

Care and Maintenance

It's tolerant of heat, humidity, urban pollution, and even clay soil with decent drainage. Though it hails from warmer climes, it has surprising cold-hardiness and returns faithfully each year, making it a garden-worthy ornamental.

As an easy-care herbaceous perennial, Praline™ offers season-long good looks with little fuss. It's drought-tolerant once established and thrives in full sun with well-drained soil.

• Planting Time: Spring or fall planting is recommended. Read how Here!
• Sun Needs: Full sun (at least 6 hours of direct light)
• Soil Needs: Well-drained; tolerates clay if not soggy
• Moisture Needs: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
• Mulch: 3–4 inches of bark mulch helps retain moisture and suppress weeds
• Fertilization Needs: Low; compost in spring is usually sufficient
• Ornamental Grass Pruning Info: Cut back to 3–4 inches in late winter or early spring before new growth
• Special Needs/Perks:
• Deer resistant and rabbit resistant
• Urban tolerant
• Low maintenance
• Wind and drought resistant
• Division Info: Divide clumps every 3–5 years in early spring to rejuvenate and multiply

A Sweet, Low-Maintenance Grass You’ll Crave!

Praline™ Fountain Grass is the candied sweet treat for your sunny beds and borders. With its soft, fluffy blooms and caramel-hued fall foliage, it’s a surefire way to sweeten up your landscape with elegance and ease.

Buy now and Nature Hills will ship this sterile Ornamental Grass at the appropriate planting time for your growing zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Praline™ Fountain Grass invasive?
No, Praline™ is a sterile cultivar and does not self-seed aggressively like some Fountain Grass species.

How tall does Praline™ Fountain Grass grow?
It stays compact at about 1-3 feet tall and can spread 3-4 feet wide—perfect for small gardens and containers.

When should I cut back Praline™ Fountain Grass?
Cut it back in late winter or early spring before new green shoots emerge.

Is it deer and rabbit-resistant?
Yes, most animals tend to avoid Fountain Grass, including Praline™.

Does it need full sun?
Yes, it performs best with 6 or more hours of direct sunlight daily.

Is it cold-hardy?
Yes, this Pennisetum is cold-hardy to USDA Zone 5.

Why Order From Nature Hills Nursery?
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