{"title":"Fountain Grass (Pennisetum)","description":"\u003cp\u003eFountain grass is the ornamental grass gardeners reach for when they want movement: arching clumps of fine leaves and soft bottlebrush plumes that catch the light and sway in any breeze. The native \u003cem\u003ePennisetum alopecuroides\u003c\/em\u003e is green with cream to purple plumes, and the purple fountain grass has burgundy leaves and rose plumes from summer into autumn. Choose by colour and by size, from 60cm to over 1m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to choose a fountain grass\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/fountain-grass-pennisetum-alopecuroides\"\u003eFountain Grass\u003c\/a\u003e is the native swamp foxtail, a green clump to about 1m with plumes from late summer, and the toughest of the three for mass planting and wet or dry ground. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/purple-fountain-grass-pennisetum-advena-rubrum\"\u003ePurple Fountain Grass\u003c\/a\u003e has deep burgundy leaves and long rose plumes to about 1.2m, the plant for a hot border, a gravel garden or a large pot where the colour carries. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dwarf-purple-fountain-grass-pennisetum-setaceum\"\u003eDwarf Purple Fountain Grass\u003c\/a\u003e gives the same colour at about 60cm for the front of a bed or a smaller container.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe trade-off is hardiness against colour: the green native is frost hardy and long lived, the purple forms are at their best in warm districts and in cold ones are treated as summer plants or cut back and mulched for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere fountain grass works\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAll three want full sun and free draining soil, and they take heat, wind and dry periods once established. Use them in drifts of five or more along a path, as a soft hedge in front of a wall, between shrubs in a native or Mediterranean style border, at the top of a bank, or in pots on a sunny terrace. The native form also suits the edge of a pond or a damp spot. The purple forms are sterile selections that do not seed, which matters in bushland suburbs. See the other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/grasses-and-strappy-leaf\"\u003egrasses and strappy leaf plants\u003c\/a\u003e, and the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-full-sun\"\u003eplants for full sun\u003c\/a\u003e for the borders they sit in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and spacing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSpace the native and the purple fountain grass 60cm to 80cm apart and the dwarf form 50cm apart. Plant level with the soil into ground improved with compost, water in and mulch. In pots use a quality potting mix in a container at least 30cm across for the dwarf and 40cm for the others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCare basics\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWater weekly through the first summer and in dry spells after that. Feed lightly in spring. The one job that matters is the late winter cut: shear each clump back to 10cm to 15cm before the new growth starts and it comes back fresh. The native form can also be cut after the plumes fade in autumn in warm districts. Divide clumps every three or four years in spring. Our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/ornamental-grasses-a-guide-to-lush-garden-design\"\u003eguide to ornamental grasses\u003c\/a\u003e covers the combinations that work with fountain grass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs fountain grass a weed in Australia?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wild green form of Pennisetum setaceum is a weed in parts of the country. The purple fountain grasses sold here are sterile selections that do not set viable seed, and the native swamp foxtail is an Australian species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen should I cut back fountain grass?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLate winter, before the new growth starts. Cut the whole clump to about 10cm to 15cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs purple fountain grass frost tolerant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. In cold districts it dies back and may not return; mulch it heavily or grow it in a pot under cover for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes fountain grass grow in pots?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, well. Use a pot at least 30cm to 40cm across and water when the mix dries.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"fountain-grass-pennisetum-alopecuroides","title":"Fountain Grass - Pennisetum alopecuroides","description":"\u003cp\u003eFountain grass (\u003cem\u003ePennisetum alopecuroides\u003c\/em\u003e), also sold as swamp foxtail, is the ornamental grass that does the most work for the least money. It forms a soft arching clump about 1m tall and 1m across, then throws up cream and pink bottlebrush plumes from late summer into autumn. It is genuinely tough: frost hardy, drought tolerant once established, and one of the few grasses that also copes with ground that stays wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMovement and texture that lasts.\u003c\/strong\u003e The plumes hold into autumn and dry on the plant, so the display continues after the flowering shrubs finish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTolerant at both extremes.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought tolerant when established, but also happy with wet feet and coastal salt, which very few plants manage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrows in most of the country.\u003c\/strong\u003e Frost hardy and suited to tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOne job a year.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut the clump back hard in late winter and it does the rest itself, while finches and wrens work the seed heads through autumn.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMass planting and drifts.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 60cm apart. At that spacing the clumps touch and the planting moves as one mass, which is the whole point of using a grass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders, slopes and pots.\u003c\/strong\u003e A single row 60cm apart softens a hard path edge without any clipping, and the fibrous roots knit into loose ground on a bank. One clump in a wide low pot works well on a balcony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing fountain grass in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun. It will survive in part shade but the clump opens up, flops and flowers poorly. Frost hardy, so it suits cool temperate gardens as well as warm ones; in cold districts it browns off over winter and reshoots in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil and water.\u003c\/strong\u003e Almost anything, including sand, clay and coastal soils, and unlike most ornamental grasses it handles a spot that stays damp. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in dry spells. It needs very little feeding, and overfeeding produces floppy growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCutting back.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the whole clump to about 100mm above ground in late winter, before the new growth starts. Skip this and it builds a grey thatch in the centre and looks tired within three years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeding, and where not to plant it.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is the honest drawback. Fountain grass sets viable seed and will self sow into adjoining beds, and it is a declared weed in parts of Western Australia and South Australia. Check your state and council rules before ordering, and never plant it where it can escape into bushland or a waterway.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is grown in tube, in 140mm multipacks and in 200mm multipacks. Grasses establish so quickly that the small sizes are almost always the right buy: a tube planted in spring will be a full clump by the following autumn. Plants arrive with the foliage trimmed back for transport, which looks sparse in the box and is normal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect new growth within three to four weeks in warm weather, and the first plumes in the first or second autumn after planting. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/grasses-for-landscaping\"\u003eBrowse ornamental grasses for landscaping\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003eCompare drought tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/low-maintenance-plants\"\u003eMore low maintenance planting ideas\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/planting-tips-how-to-grow-a-beautiful-garden\"\u003ePreparing a garden bed before planting\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSixty centimetres apart. Each clump reaches about a metre across, so they overlap slightly and the drift reads as continuous by the second season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it spread and become a problem?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt does not run at the root, but it does self seed. In a maintained garden that is easy to manage by cutting the plumes off in late autumn. In parts of Western Australia and South Australia it is a declared weed, so check your local rules first.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it grow in a wet spot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. A low corner that puddles after rain suits it, where most ornamental grasses would rot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":44340847640895,"sku":"PEN-ALO-tube","price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54140111782207,"sku":"PEN-ALO-140MM-P10","price":153.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200mm (Pack of 6)","offer_id":54140111814975,"sku":"PEN-ALO-200MM-P6","price":152.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Fountain-Grass-Pennisetum-alopecuroides.png?v=1766222144"},{"product_id":"purple-fountain-grass-pennisetum-advena-rubrum","title":"Purple Fountain Grass - Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum'","description":"\u003cp\u003ePurple Fountain Grass (\u003cem\u003ePennisetum advena\u003c\/em\u003e 'Rubrum') is the fastest way to put colour and movement into a new garden bed. Burgundy foliage arches into a fountain about 1.2m tall and 1m wide, topped through the warm months with soft pink and purple plumes that sway in any breeze. Just as importantly, this is a sterile selection: it gives the ornamental grass look without seeding itself around the garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour from the foliage, not just the flowers.\u003c\/strong\u003e The deep burgundy leaves hold their tone all season, so the plant contributes even between plume flushes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSterile and well behaved.\u003c\/strong\u003e Unlike some ornamental grasses, this clone does not set viable seed, so it stays where you plant it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast to a finished look.\u003c\/strong\u003e Genuinely fast growing, tube stock builds into a full fountain within its first warm season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThrives on tough sites.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought, heat and coastal salt spray all suit it once established, which makes it a mainstay of low water gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOne cut a year.\u003c\/strong\u003e Maintenance is a single late winter cut back. That is the entire program.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeature planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e A single clump beside a letterbox, gate or pool corner reads as a designer touch, especially backlit by low sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 60cm apart for a flowing sweep of burgundy that moves together in the wind. Offset rows fill fastest and read most naturally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e A row along a fence or driveway softens hard landscaping, with the plumes arching out over the edge from midsummer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and containers.\u003c\/strong\u003e One plant fills a 400mm pot with fountain and plume, giving balconies the same movement as a full bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Purple Fountain Grass in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun brings out the deepest burgundy and the most plumes. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid climates. It tolerates light frost only: in districts with cold winters the foliage burns back after frost, then reshoots from the base in spring, while in frost free gardens it holds foliage year round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Any free draining soil, from sand to improved clay. It is not fussy about fertility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly through the first summer, after which established clumps are drought tolerant and largely self sufficient. A little slow release fertiliser in spring supports the flush of new growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut the whole clump back to about 20cm in late winter, before new growth starts. This removes the tired foliage and makes room for a clean, fully coloured fountain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Purple Fountain Grass as tube stock, in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Tubes look modest on arrival but move quickly, reaching a proper fountain in their first warm season. The packs suit mass planting. If your plants arrive in winter looking bleached or cut back, that is the natural seasonal state, not damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/ornamental-grasses-a-guide-to-lush-garden-design\"\u003eDesigning with ornamental grasses\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/grasses-and-strappy-leaf\"\u003eBrowse all grasses and strappy leaf plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003eMore drought tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/fountain-grass-pennisetum-alopecuroides\"\u003eCompare the green leafed native Fountain Grass\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it seed all over my garden?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. 'Rubrum' is a sterile clone that does not produce viable seed, which is why it is the fountain grass we recommend. It spreads only as a slowly widening clump.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat happens to it in winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn frost free gardens it stays coloured year round. Where winters bring frost the foliage browns off, and the clump reshoots from the base in spring. Genuinely cold climates are better served by other grasses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen and how do I cut it back?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce a year in late winter, shear the entire clump to about 20cm. Wear gloves, grab the foliage in a ponytail and cut straight across. Spring regrowth arrives fully coloured.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart for a massed effect?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant 60cm apart. The fountains touch within the first season and merge into a continuous flowing band by the second.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":51644990718271,"sku":"PEN-ADV-RUB-tube","price":19.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54140111880511,"sku":"PEN-ADV-RUB-140MM-P10","price":153.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200mm (Pack of 6)","offer_id":54140111847743,"sku":"PEN-ADV-RUB-200MM-P6","price":167.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"300mm","offer_id":55100296986943,"sku":"PEN-ADV-RUB-300MM","price":79.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Purple-Fountain-Grass-Pennisetum-advena-Rubrum.png?v=1766222147"},{"product_id":"dwarf-purple-fountain-grass-pennisetum-setaceum","title":"Dwarf Purple Fountain Grass - Pennisetum setaceum","description":"\u003cp\u003eDwarf Purple Fountain Grass (\u003cem\u003ePennisetum setaceum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Rubrum Dwarf') is the compact burgundy grass that gives a flat garden bed some movement. It forms a neat clump about 60cm tall and 60cm wide, topped through the warm months with soft pink to purple plumes that catch low afternoon light. It is fast, drought tolerant, and asks for nothing beyond one cut a year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBurgundy foliage, not just flowers.\u003c\/strong\u003e The colour sits in the leaf, so the clump holds its tone from spring through autumn.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe right size for a border.\u003c\/strong\u003e At 60cm each way it edges a path or fronts a bed without swamping the plants behind it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt for hot, dry and salty positions.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and salt tolerant, so a coastal bed or a hot western wall suits it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast to fill in.\u003c\/strong\u003e A tube planted in spring is a full clump by the following autumn, which is what makes mass planting affordable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 50cm apart in drifts. At that spacing the clumps touch without merging, which gives a mass planting its rhythm instead of a solid mat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e A single row at 50cm centres along a path reads as a soft ribbon of colour and needs no clipping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and coastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerance makes it useful in exposed coastal beds, and its compact roots suit a pot 300mm or wider on a hot balcony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Dwarf Purple Fountain Grass in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, always. Shade turns the burgundy foliage a muddy green and the clump falls open. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. Light frost is tolerated, though in cool districts the clump browns off over winter and shoots again in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining soil of almost any type. It is happiest lean and does not want a rich, wet bed. On clay, plant on a low mound so water moves away from the crown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly for the first two months, then only through extended dry spells. A light dressing of complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is plenty, since overfeeding produces floppy green growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut the whole clump back to about 100mm in late winter, before new growth starts. That single annual haircut is the entire maintenance program.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is grown as tube stock. Tubes arrive as small, well rooted plants with a modest fan of leaves, often greener than the mature colour, which deepens after a few weeks of full sun. Grasses travel well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant into warm soil for the fastest result. From a spring planting you can expect a full sized clump and the first plumes within the same growing season. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/grasses-and-strappy-leaf\"\u003eBrowse the grasses and strappy leaf range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/ornamental-grasses-a-guide-to-lush-garden-design\"\u003eDesigning with ornamental grasses\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/mass-planting-plants\"\u003eOther plants suited to mass planting\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003eCoastal and salt tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this the weedy fountain grass?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The green species form is a declared weed in several Australian states, which is why only sterile or near sterile purple selections such as this one should be planted. If you garden near bushland, check your local council list first.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFifty centimetres apart for a mass planting or an edging row. Any tighter and the clumps merge into an undefined mass; any wider and the gaps stay visible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy has my plant gone green?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot enough sun. The burgundy pigment develops in strong light, so a clump in part shade drifts back towards green and loses its upright shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it survive winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn warm gardens it stays evergreen. In cooler areas it takes light frost but browns off, then reshoots from the base once the soil warms. Cut it back before that new growth starts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp data-nnm=\"wa-weed-warning\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWestern Australia: this plant is listed as an environmental weed in WA, where it escapes from gardens into bushland. We do not recommend it for WA gardens. 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