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Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Purple Lea' (Swamp Foxtail Grass)

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Helpful articles

Top ten native plants. Native plant specialist Angus Stewart's top ten native Australian plants.

Growing Banksias. Learn how to grow Banksia in your garden.

Bio Pools. Bio pools or Natural Swimmming Pools are an attractive & environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional swimming pools.

Native Annuals and Perennials. Australian annual and perennial plants can be used to create excitement in your garden as they are quick growing, usually very floriferous and because they are relatively temporary they can be replaced on a regular basis to add something new each year.

Plant description

Pennisetum alopecuroides Purple Lea

Pennisetum alopecuroides Purple Lea 2

A compact, clumping perennial grass with broad arching leaves and showy, purple feathery flowers through the warmer months. Great for mass planting, accent planting for rockeries and borders. Plumes suitable for dried arrangements. Note: This species can seed readily so remove the flower heads before they go to seed to prevent it self seeding.

Further reading: Top ten native plants and Best natives for pots and small gardens (articles written by native plant expert and horticulturalist Angus Stewart).

Additional plant information

Flowers

Flower colour: purple
Flowering season: spring summer autumn

Plant size

Maximum height: 0.7 metres
Minimum height: 0.6 metres

Maximum width: 0.8 metres
Minimum width: 0.5 metres

Sunlight, frost & salt tolerance

This plant will tolerate full sunlight.
Medium frost tolerance.
Plant is not salt tolerant.

Fauna attracting?

Yes. Attracts: insects.

Climate

This plant species will grow in the following climates: cool, temperate.

Soil types & conditions

Loam: dry, moist.

Clay: dry, moist.

Sand: dry, moist.

Miscellaneous information

Native to: Australia.

Planting season: not specified.

Types of fertiliser: not specified.

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