Re: Pennisetums

I'm not able to contribute much to this list as I live in northeastern
Indiana, but I find your posts interesting, so thanks for allowing me to
lurk.  I'd just like to mention that I have grown Pennisetum setaceum
'Rubrum' for many years.  I dig it back up each fall and overwinter it in
the garage.  All winter long my cat, Mick, waits for any opportunity for
that door to open so he can get out there and chew on it for awhile.  I've
gotten a few new starts from pieces that have fallen over and rooted, but no
luck with seed.  I've been told it's next to impossible to get it going from
seed.

I obtained another this year that is sometimes listed as a P. setaceum
cultivar, but I find it listed as more likely Pennisetum maacrostachyum
variety.  It is called 'Burgundy Giant'.  It has the same dark color but
much wider leaves.  Is this Pennisetum also a problem in your Mediterranean
areas?

Kitty

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Katherine Waser" <kwaser@ag.arizona.edu>
To: <fdelamota@xerijardin.com>; "Medit-Plants" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 11:30 AM
Subject: 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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