Cream Lea® Fountain Grass

Cream Lea Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides, now classified as Cenchrus purpurascens) is an Australian native grass with feathery cream to white flower plumes above tall, lime green foliage. The arching clump grows 60cm to 1m high and wide, with flowers rising to 1.5m. It is a clumping Ozbreed line, not the weedy African fountain grass.

Why you'll love it

• Feathery cream plumes. The flowers contrast with the lime green foliage and make a showy display.
• A native, non-invasive choice. Ozbreed notes this native has a much wider plume than the exotic African fountain grass and is non-invasive, which makes it the safer pick.
• Arching, clumping habit. It forms tidy fountains of leaves that stay in a clump.
• Good for native birds. Ozbreed lists it as great for attracting native birds.
• Frost tolerant. It handles frost, and needs only a top up watering in times of drought.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 60cm apart, about three plants per square metre. Ozbreed's range is two to five, and at 60cm the clumps merge into a drift.

Borders and rockeries. For a border, plant one to two plants per metre, which is 60cm to 1m apart.

Accent plantings. A single clump gives a fountain of foliage and plumes in a low maintenance garden.

Growing Cream Lea Fountain Grass in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. Ozbreed lists it for New South Wales, the ACT, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, and it is frost tolerant.

Soil. Sandy to light clay soils suit it. Plant into a well mulched bed, using a chunky mulch.

Water and feed. Water as required for the first 8 to 13 weeks until established. In drought, a top up watering helps. Apply a slow release fertiliser in late winter.

Pruning. Cut it back each year to about one third of its height, in late autumn to winter, before new growth starts.

What to expect when it arrives

Cream Lea Fountain Grass is listed in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Stock comes from Ozbreed's licensed growers and is grown to order at times, so a size can show as backorder. Order it and we confirm timing with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full fountain grass range
• See the full Ozbreed range
• More Australian native plants
• Our guide to a low maintenance native garden

Common questions

Is it the weedy African fountain grass?

No. This is the native Cenchrus purpurascens, formerly sold as Pennisetum alopecuroides. Ozbreed notes its plume is much wider than the exotic Pennisetum setaceum, and it is non-invasive.

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 60cm apart for mass planting, or one to two plants per metre in a border.

When do I cut it back?

Each year in late autumn to winter, to about one third of its height.

How tall do the plumes get?

The clump is 60cm to 1m high and wide, with the flower heads rising to 1.5m, so allow height towards the back of a border.