Re: Thank you

Francisco has raised a very important point; this grass is also extremely invasive in many parts of the USA, including southern Arizona, where I live. The "natural" species form (sorry, I don't know the correct botanical term for this) should definitely be avoided like the plague!

However, there is at least one cultivar that is sterile: Pennisetum setaceum "Cupreum" which has very attractive red-purple leaves and plumes. (According to the Pima County, Arizona, Extension service Master Gardeners web site, http://cals.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplants/Pennisetum_setaceum.html, this is the ONLY cultivar that is sterile.)

I have grown this in my back yard for about 10 years now and, indeed, it has never spread by seed. It does slowly spread as the clumps grow larger, but this can easily be managed. Besides enjoying its dramatic coloration in my garden, I like to use it in flower arrangements. Also, the dried stalks, when chopped up, make excellent mulch.

Just be very, very careful to make sure you get the sterile cultivar, or DON"T GROW THIS!!!

happy gardening,

Katherine Waser

At 09:53 AM 10/18/2005, Francisco J. de la Mota wrote:
Please, try to avoid using Pennisetum setaceum since it is invasive in several areas in Spain.
----- Original Message -----
From: <p*@nznf.co.uk>Pamela Steele
To: <m*@ucdavis.edu>Medit-Plants
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 1:55 PM
Subject: Thank you

Thank you everyone for help in identifying the plants I found in Egypt. I hope I can find them in Spain because I am sure they will all do well.

Pamela
















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