Midstorey

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Swamp foxtail Cenchrus purpurascens

Previously known as Pennisetum alopecuroides

When it flowers

Plants are large, coarse and not readily eaten by livestock
Plants are large, coarse and not readily eaten by livestock. Photo: Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Flowerheads are cylindrical, spike-like, contracted panicles up to 20 cm in length; purplish when young and turning white when mature.
Flowerheads are cylindrical, spike-like, contracted panicles up to 20 cm in length; purplish when young and turning white when mature.. Photo: Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pasto introducido, de inflorescencia púrpura.
Pasto introducido, de inflorescencia púrpura.. Photo: Nostradame2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Fountain-shaped grass with purple foxtail flower heads through summer and autumn.

Still sold as Pennisetum alopecuroides. It forms a graceful, arching clump topped with bottle-brush-like purple to bronze flower heads from summer into autumn. Native to eastern Australia and happy in damp ground. Compact cultivars such as 'Nafray' are widely sold.

In the garden

  • Feature plant
  • Mass planting
  • Banks and slopes
  • Pond and bog edges
Attracts
Shelter for small wildlife
Flowers
Cylindrical purple to bronze foxtail heads, 10 to 15 cm long.
Leaves
Narrow, arching green leaves that colour gold in autumn.

Growing conditions

Light
Full sun to part shade
Soil
Sandy, loam and clay
Drainage
Copes with waterlogging
Frost
Hard frost
Water
Some dry spells
Climate
Subtropical, temperate and cool and alpine

Planting and care

Grown from
Seed and division

Planting

Sun or part shade; does well in damp soil. Space 70 cm apart.

Pruning

Cut back to 10 cm in late winter.

Care

Water in long dry spells. It self-seeds in moist soil; remove seed heads if that's a problem.

Where it comes from

Family
Poaceae
Order
Poales
Native to
ACT, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria
Natural range
Creek banks and swampy ground of eastern Australia.

Where to buy

Widely available.

We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.

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Further reading

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An independent list of nurseries that specialise in Australian native plants. Nobody pays to be on it. Distances are approximate and in a straight line. Opening hours and stock vary, so check before you go.