Fireworks Fountain Grass, Pennisetum setaceum ‘Fireworks’

Common Name: Fireworks Fountain Grass

Type: Ornamental Grass

Family: Poaceae

Zone: 9 to 11     Find Your Zone

Height: 3 feet

Width: 2 feet

Bloom Time: summer

Bloom Color: pinkish purple

Sun exposure: full sun to partial shade

Soil: well drained

Of course an ornamental grass with this kind of brilliant color would be an annual grass throughout most of the United States. Like ‘rubrum’, Fireworks is grown primarily as an annual. Although cold hardy from zone 9 to 11 ‘Fireworks’ makes a great plant for planters or a backdrop of an annual bed. Be sure to plant in a well-drained soil in the full sun. Its plumes have just as brilliant of a color as the grass itself and blooms in the summer. Take a look at our 12 Ornamental Grasses for Landscaping.

PLANTING GUIDE

STEP 1: Digging the hole

• Find a location that has suitable sun exposure for your particular type of plant.
• Dig your hole an inch or two shallower than the rootball of the plant.
• Dig the hole twice the diameter of the rootball.
• Scuff up the sides of the hole with a shovel to help roots break through the native soil.
  

STEP 2: Putting plant in hole

• When removing the plant from the pot, check to see if the roots were circling the pot.
• If the plant is rootbound, gently break up the roots with your hands until loosened up.
• Set plant level, in the center of the hole.
• Make sure the top of the rootball is just above soil level.

STEP 3: Amending the soil and filling in the hole

• Amend the soil with proper amendments for your soil type. 
  
• Incorporate 50% native soil with 50% amendment soils like garden soil, composted manure or soil conditioner.
• Make sure dirt clods are broken up or removed from hole along with rocks.
• Fill the hole with soils to the soil level and pack down. Do not cover top of rootball with dirt.
  
• Water in thoroughly to remove air pockets.

STEP 4: Mulching and fertilizing

• Cover the planting site with at least 2 inches of the mulch of your choice (pinestraw, cupress mulch,etc.)
• High Phosphorus root stimulator fertilizers like Quick Start from Miracle Gro are great to use at time of planting.

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