Pennisetum genus covers approximately 120 species of rhizomatous or stoloniferous clump forming annual and perennial grasses. They are found in woodland and savannah in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate zones all over the world.

Pennisetum setaceum (Syn:Pennisetum rueppellii) is a perennial bunch grass belonging to Poaceaefamily. It is native to North Africa; Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Middle East and SW Asia; Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan also Sicily. It has been introduced to many parts of the world as an ornamental plant, and has become an invasive species in some of them. Genus name comes from the Latin penna meaning feather and seta meaning bristle in reference to the flowers having long, feathery bristles. Specific epithet seta means bristled.

Fountain Grass grows fast, reaches up to 150 cm in height. Tufted stems are erect. Leaf blades are narrow, linear, flat or edges enrolled, average height 60 cm, wide 6 mm. Midrib thickened on upper surface. Inflorescence is a dense, terminal panicle, white to dark green to pinkish-purple, narrow, cylindrical, nodding to 35 cm long and 7 cm wide including bristles. Spikelets in clusters of 1-3, each to 6 mm long, with conspicuous bristles.

Pennisetum setaceum is tolerant to heat and drought, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in all kind of soils; sandy, loamy, heavy and nutritionally poor soil. It is suitable acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade or under the sun. Plant can take some frost up to -10°C. In warm areas it may be grown as a perennial, in colder areas it dies in winter. This is a very easy grass to propagate; can be grown from cuttings, seeds or division of the clump.

Fountain Grass is a highly invasive tufted grass. Plants are used as ornamentals and once escaped; this grass can form dense stands that exclude all other plants. It has been used for soil stabilisation and is a weed of pastures and alongside railway lines and roads. Plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds.

Use in Landscape: Attractive foliage and flower spikes of this ornamental grass provide excellent texture, colour and contrast to borders, foundations and open areas. Pennisetum setaceum can be used as specimen, group or mass planting. Colourful, attractive foliage of this plant also make a nice winter interest.