Nafray® Fountain Grass

Nafray Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides 'PA300') is the Australian native fountain grass improved for gardens: finer in the leaf, more compact, more drought tolerant and better coloured through winter than the common form. It grows to about 60cm tall and wide, and from summer into autumn it carries soft feathery plumes in buff and pale pink. Bred by Ozbreed from the native species (now also sold as Cenchrus purpurascens), it is not the weedy African fountain grass, and it is as happy in a rain garden as on a dry bank.

Why you'll love it

• A native that behaves. This is the Australian species, not the invasive African one; the plumes are much wider and it is not an environmental weed.
• Movement and softness. The fine foliage and feathery plumes bring motion to a bed of stiff strappy leaves from summer through autumn.
• Wet feet or dry bank. Its roots are tough in both, which is why it is specified for bioswales and rain gardens.
• Birds and insects use it. It is listed for biodiversity support, and the seed heads feed small birds in autumn.

Where it works best

Mass planting and borders. Plant 40cm apart, between four and ten plants per square metre, and the clumps meet within a season to form a soft, flowing mass; two to three per linear metre edges a path.

Rain gardens and bioswales. Most ornamental grasses fail in a swale that floods and then dries; this one takes periodic wet feet and drought alike.

Rockeries, roadsides and slopes. The dense root mass holds soil on batters and verges, and at 60cm it never swamps the rocks around it.

Growing Nafray Fountain Grass in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with full sun giving the most plumes. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi arid gardens in every state and the ACT, and tolerates frost, heat and humidity.

Soil. Sandy to heavy clay. It is not fussy about fertility.

Water and feed. Water as needed for the first 8 to 13 weeks, then let it fend for itself. Chunky mulch, and a slow release fertiliser in late winter as growth restarts.

Pruning. Trim the whole clump back to a third of its size in late autumn or winter each year, which removes the old plumes and keeps the growth dense. In warm wet districts (northern New South Wales and Queensland, boggy spots, over irrigated beds) it can regenerate from seed; cut the spent heads off as they start to drop if you prefer none. The seed heads carry awns that stick to clothing and pets' coats, and the same snip solves that.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Nafray Fountain Grass in 100mm pots in packs of 10, in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. The small pots are the economical choice for a large sweep and catch up quickly in warm soil; the 200mm pots give border presence at once and usually plume the first summer. Grasses travel well, and a flattened leaf stands up again within days.

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 grasses and strappy leaf plants
• More Australian native plants

Common questions

Is this the weedy fountain grass?

No. The weed is the African Pennisetum setaceum, with a narrow plume. Nafray is bred from the native species and is not an environmental weed, though in warm wet conditions it may self seed, which the autumn trim prevents.

Does it die back in winter?

It goes quiet and the plumes dry off, but it holds colour better than the common form. The late autumn cut tidies it, and fresh growth comes with spring.

How far apart for a massed planting?

Plant 40cm apart and it closes within a season; at 50cm each clump reads on its own for a year.