Pennisetum alopecuroides

Deciduous perennial reaching 1.5 m tall by 0.5 m wide, growing rapidly to hardy UK zone 7. Flowers appear August to September, wind-pollinated hermaphroditic species. Thrives in light sandy or medium loamy, well-drained soils with mildly acidic to basic pH. Requires full sun, tolerates dry to moist conditions and handles drought well.

Description

An evergreen grass. It grows 60-120 cm high and wide. It forms a clump or mound. The leaves are narrow and arching. They are 0.6-1 m long and 0.6 cm wide. They are dark green. They are hairy along the edges. The flower heads are fuzzy and purple. They are 7-20 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They weigh down the stem tips. The flower stems are 1 m long.

Edible Uses

The seed is edible cooked and can be ground into a flour. It is considered an emergency food, used when other options are unavailable.

Traditional Uses

The grains are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It grows in temperate regions but can also grow in the tropics and subtropics. It needs well drained soil. It can grow in full sun or light shade. It can tolerate light frosts. In China it grows from sea level to 3200 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Canada, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tibet,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or by division of the clump.

Propagation

Seed should be sown in spring in a greenhouse, barely covered. Germination usually takes place within 3 weeks. Prick seedlings out into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on in the greenhouse through the first winter. Plant out into permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Divide in spring; larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions, while smaller divisions are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a cold frame until well established before planting out in late spring or early summer.

Other Uses

Plants form impenetrably dense clumps and, when planted close together in drifts, make an excellent ground cover. They are best spaced about 45cm apart each way.

Other Information

They are a famine food.

Notes

There are about 100 Pennisetum species. It is used for forage.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Lang wei cao

References (8)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 438
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1005
• Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 227
• Joyce, D., 1998, The Garden Plant Selector. Ryland, Peters and Small. p 331
• Molyneux, B. and Forrester, S., 1997, The Austraflora A-Z of Australian Plants. Reed. p 143

More from Poaceae

Anthephora nigritana

Anthephora pubescens

Wool grass, Bottle brush grass

Anthoxanthum odoratum

Sweet vernal grass, Grass tea

Aristida acuta

Aristida congesta

Aristida inaequiglumis

Curly wire grass, Feathertop Threeawn Grass, Unequal threeawn