{"product_id":"nafray-fountain-grass-pennisetum-alopecuroides","title":"Nafray® Fountain Grass - Pennisetum alopecuroides 'PA300'","description":"\u003cp\u003eNafray Fountain Grass (\u003cem\u003ePennisetum alopecuroides\u003c\/em\u003e '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 \u003cem\u003eCenchrus purpurascens\u003c\/em\u003e), it is not the weedy African fountain grass, and it is as happy in a rain garden as on a dry bank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA native that behaves.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is the Australian species, not the invasive African one; the plumes are much wider and it is not an environmental weed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMovement and softness.\u003c\/strong\u003e The fine foliage and feathery plumes bring motion to a bed of stiff strappy leaves from summer through autumn.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWet feet or dry bank.\u003c\/strong\u003e Its roots are tough in both, which is why it is specified for bioswales and rain gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBirds and insects use it.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is listed for biodiversity support, and the seed heads feed small birds in 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 borders.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRain gardens and bioswales.\u003c\/strong\u003e Most ornamental grasses fail in a swale that floods and then dries; this one takes periodic wet feet and drought alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRockeries, roadsides and slopes.\u003c\/strong\u003e The dense root mass holds soil on batters and verges, and at 60cm it never swamps the rocks around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Nafray Fountain Grass in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sandy to heavy clay. It is not fussy about fertility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe 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.\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=\"\/collections\/fountain-grass\"\u003eBrowse the full fountain grass range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ozbreed\"\u003eSee the full Ozbreed range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/grasses-and-strappy-leaf\"\u003eMore grasses and strappy leaf plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/australian-natives\"\u003eMore Australian native 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 weed is the African \u003cem\u003ePennisetum setaceum\u003c\/em\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it die back in winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart for a massed planting?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant 40cm apart and it closes within a season; at 50cm each clump reads on its own for a year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"100mm (Pack of 10) (Backorder)","offer_id":67785335374143,"sku":"PEN-ALO-100MM-P10","price":190.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":67785335406911,"sku":"PEN-ALO-140MM-P10","price":190.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200mm (Pack of 6) (Backorder)","offer_id":67785335439679,"sku":"PEN-ALO-200MM-P6","price":368.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/nafray-fountain-grass-pennisetum-alopecuroides.jpg?v=1792128525","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/nafray-fountain-grass-pennisetum-alopecuroides","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}