The red feather bristle grass is an extremely attractive ornamental grass with its light pink flowers and dark red leaves. Unlike the Pennisetum species originally from Asia, this variant is only partially hardy.
How do I overwinter red Pennisetum correctly?
In order to overwinter the red pennisetum successfully, you should apply winter protection such as spruce branches, bark mulch, leaves or straw to the root area of garden plants. Potted plants are overwintered indoors in a cool, frost-free place.
Winter protection required
Even in mild locations, you should provide the grass with good winter protection. Suitable are:
- Spruce branches,
- Bark mulch,
- Leaves,
- Straw.
Spread these materials in a layer that is not too thin in the root area. It is also recommended to wrap the lower third of the red pennisetum in a special plant fleece (€72.00 on Amazon).
Overwintering potted plants
Put potted plants in the house in autumn and put them in a cool but frost-free room. Do not allow the root ball to dry out completely and water occasionally.
Tip
If you cannot provide sufficient winter protection or have no opportunity to overwinter the plant indoors, you can cultivate it as an annual. Pennisetum grows relatively quickly and forms fluffy spikes in the first year.
