Pennisetum (Pennisetum), or pinnacle is a flowering perennial or annual, a representative of the Cereals family. The culture unites about 150 species in its genus. The flower prefers to grow in moderate climatic conditions and is not endowed with sufficient cold resistance. The plant is widespread in the warm African and South American climates. In our country, the pennisetum has already gained well-deserved popularity among flower lovers and landscape designers for its unusual "fluffy" inflorescences-spikelets, which resemble small soft feathers covered with bristles.
Description of the pennisetum flower
The average height of dense thickets of pinnate bristles varies from 15 cm to almost 1.5 m.The plant consists of straight bare stems collected at the base of bright green half-meter narrow (about 5 mm wide) leaves, lush spike-shaped inflorescences of various color shades with many fluffy bristles ... The people call the bush "fountain grass" for its form of growth. Perennial flowering lasts from the beginning of July, almost all of September. An important feature of the pennisetum is its high resistance to all harmful insects and various diseases. Plants almost never suffer from such problems.
Growing pennisetum from seeds
Sowing seeds
Sowing dates depend on the selected species and varieties of pennisetum. For example, annuals can be sown directly on open flower beds. A favorable time for this is the second half of May. For growing seedlings, the seed material of one-year-olds is placed in planting boxes in mid-April.
Perennials are recommended to be grown only in seedlings. For this, sowing seeds can be done after February 15th. Since plants have a negative attitude towards transplanting and exposing the root part, it is better to use peat pots for seedlings.
Pennisetum seedlings
Seedling containers are filled with a nutritious substrate, the seeds are buried by 1-2 mm and moistened with a fine spray. The seed boxes must be placed in a dry, warm and bright room. Seedlings will appear in about 7-10 days.
Until the end of February, seedlings will need additional lighting with fluorescent lamps. Strong and strong seedlings with a height of 10-15 cm are transplanted to open ground in the last days of May, when warm weather sets in and the soil becomes sufficiently warm.
Planting pennisetum in open ground
When to plant
Pennisetum thrives in open areas with ample sunlight and warmth.You can use places along the buildings. This will protect the bushes from drafts and strong gusts of wind. The soil in the chosen place should be fertile and nutritious, with all the nutrients necessary for plants, moist and with weak acidity. Crops are not suitable for sandy soils or too dense in structure.
How to plant correctly
Before planting pennisetum seedlings, it is recommended to protect the selected land area around the perimeter with metal or slate sheets, deepening them by at least 0.5 m. Such measures will prevent the bush from growing to other territories as they mature. Young bushes should be planted directly in peat pots at intervals of about 70 cm.
Pennisetum garden care
The soil
The soil around the bush must be loosened and weeded regularly.
Watering
Pennisetum is enough to moisten natural precipitation, but in the absence of them for a long time, it is necessary to water the plants. In the summer season, when the weather is hot and dry, watering is also recommended.
Fertilization
If there is fertile soil at the place of cultivation, fertilizer can be omitted. On depleted and poor soil, plants will need liquid mineral fertilizing. Complex fertilizers must be applied once every thirty days throughout the growing season.
Transfer
The culture really doesn't like transplants. If such a procedure is still very necessary, then it is worth combining it with dividing the root for further propagation, so that you do not have to repeatedly stress the root system of the penisetum.
Pennisetum in winter
Perennial pennisetum species are not ready to survive severe frosts and snowless winters without shelter. It is recommended to protect the root system from freezing with organic insulation, and you can also use the aboveground part of the herbaceous culture. After the end of flowering, you should not cut it off, this will be an excellent protection for the roots from the cold. The entire surface of the ground near the plants must be covered with a thick layer of any organic material. You can take fallen leaves, dry grass, sawdust, peat, spruce or pine needles, and even spruce branches. With the arrival of spring, as soon as the last snow melts, the mulching layer is removed, and the last year's ground part of the plants (stems and leaves) is completely cut off.
Reproduction of pennisetum
Annual pennisetum species are grown using seeds, and perennials are often propagated by self-seeding or, most commonly, by dividing the root. This method is simple and within the power of any grower, even a beginner.
An adult bush is removed from the ground in early spring. The central part of the root is not used for propagation because over time it starts to deteriorate. After extraction, it is recommended to cut and destroy it. Large cuttings are cut from the remaining part and planted in planting holes. The depth of the hole should be the same as that of an adult plant. The divided parts are sprinkled with fertile soil, lightly tamped and watered abundantly.
This propagation method can be used on each plant no more than once every five years.
Pennisetum in landscape design
The highly decorative pennisetum is very popular among landscape designers. With the help of this decorative cereal, you can not only green the site, but also create a natural landscape, an original plant and water composition. A major accent in such natural "paintings" will be the Foxetum Pennisetum. It will look great near the reservoir against the background of the undersized cauldron "Rough" and marigold.
If you plant a flowering perennial as a curb plant, then it will not only become an ideal frame for a garden path, but also emphasize the beauty of a lawn or a nearby flower garden or flower bed. And in an alpine slide or in an unusual rocky composition, the pennisetum will become a real leader. Its huge leaves of a juicy green hue will become a bright spot in the overall picture.
A pinnate of different types and varieties, planted in a garden or on a personal plot, will resemble multi-colored fountains against a background of green grass and leaves. This versatile plant can be planted in combination with various herbaceous and semi-shrub crops. It perfectly coexists with roses, lavender, chamomile, poppies, gray fescue and many others. Professionals advise using an unusual culture in continuous flowering compositions. You will be provided with a high decorative effect.
Types and varieties of pennisetum
Shaggy pennisetum (Pennisetum villosum)
Plant, on average half a meter in height with flat narrow leaf plates and golden inflorescences-spikelets with soft five-centimeter bristles. The species is used in flower arrangements, dry bouquets.
Pennisetum bristly (Pennisetum setaceum)
In the wild, it is a perennial, and in culture, it is an annual plant. The height of the flowering bush is 0.7-1.3 m. It blooms in July-August with loose spike-shaped panicles of pink or red-footed hue. Popular variety:
- Rubrum - differs in dark red inflorescences
Pennisetum orientale
Perennial with low cold resistance, forming dense thickets up to 80 cm high. In natural nature, it can be found in northeast Africa, India, Pakistan, in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. It differs from other species in spike-shaped panicles of pink and purple hues and bristles of medium length (about 3 cm).
Pennisetum blue (Pennisetum glaucum)
A type of dense bush culture, reaching a height of 1.5-2 m. A distinctive feature is leaf plates with a burgundy and bronze shade, 3.5 cm wide. The best varieties:
- Purple majesty - parts of a plant that are dark purple or black
- Purple Baron - short leaves, very dark inflorescences
- Jade Princesses - shaggy inflorescences with shades of red and burgundy, leaves - yellow-green
Pennisetum foxtail (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
A highly decorative shrub, reaching a height of 0.4-1 m, characterized by moderate resistance to cold and retaining the beauty of its inflorescences even in winter. The bush is able to withstand small frosts - no more than 5 degrees. The homeland of this species is East Asia and Australia. Features: narrow leaf plates of a rich green hue in summer and golden yellow in other seasons. Its popular varieties:
- Hameln is a stunted plant.
- Red Head - differs in red and purple inflorescences.
Pennisetum incomptum
An early flowering and cold-resistant perennial plant that can withstand frosts over 25 degrees. Consists of a long rhizome, gray-green leaves and spike-shaped inflorescences that change color during the season from green to yellow-brown. The average height is about 1.2 m.
