I rarely seek to simplify. Indeed, I’m usually looking to muck up my life a little bit more with each passing day.
However, there is now a plant in my life that has made it possible for my to say “sayonara” to all Purple Fountain Grasses, Phormiums, Cordylines and Millets. I might get to like this simplicity thing!
Hello, Pennisetum purpureum ‘Vertigo’… Where have you been all my life?
'Vertigo' flanked by a Cardoon, 2 invisible Eryngiums and a Buddleia (and a few bowling balls)
Less ratty than Purple Fountain Grass
Way more full and less limp than any Phormium
Flowier than a Cordyline
And less “stick-like” than any other Millet
I LOVE this plant.
When in came in a treasure chest from Proven Winners, I think it had been hit up with some growth regulators so it looked a little funny and stunty- so I put it near a new planting of 3 Eryngium ‘Sapphire Blue’ and within a week, it had over shadowed the Eryngiums… killing one and leaving the other 2 gasping for their lives.
AND I DIDN’T CARE!
It is SUCH an awesome beast!
Its habit sort of reminds me, in shape and vigor.. of this…
Well, I was excited until I saw the annual, Zone 8 comment. I guess I’ll just stick with Miscanthus sinensis ‘Purpurascens’ or, if I need tall and upright, ‘Northwind’ Panicum.
I love annuals, can’t quit ‘em…
the color is lovely, & the blues really set it off! is it an aggressive creeper?
I should have said in the post that it’s an annual for anyplace colder than a zone 8. Which is pretty much all of us.
It’s not a creeper, just a strongly branched grass. Full and lush.
Can’t get enough!