Fountaingrass
Family Poaceae
Pennisetum setaceum
Designation/Status
Arizona Noxious Weed List -
Not Listed
Federal Noxious Weed List – Not Listed
Origins
Fountain Grass is native to Africa and the Middle East.
Plant Characteristics
Life Cycle: Fountaingrass is a
drought tolerant perennial bunchgrass. It is susceptible to
freezing temperatures but is more tolerant than Buffelgrass.
Visual Appearance:
Fountaingrass typically grows to heights exceeding 3 feet. It
consists of long, slender, green leaves that appear lush in warm
weather when moisture is present. Purple to white inflorescences
are distinctively long and feathery.
Habitat
Found in a variety of
habitats and elevations, but prefers dryer sandy soils in areas
with limited rainfall. In the Sonoran desert, fountain grass
favors desert riparian areas and washes, but also invades
grasslands, deserts, canyons, rocky slopes, and disturbed areas
such as roadsides and abandoned home sites.
Control Measures
Mechanical and Cultural:
Complete removal of the entire
plant is the best way to reduce seed production, reduce wildfire
threat, and eliminate competition to native species. Plants should
be dug up by the roots and carefully disposed of in such a manner
as to prevent the inflorescences or seeds from blowing away and or
transported to new sites.
Biological: None
Chemical:
Glyphosate and 2,4-D are effective herbicides for use against
Fountaingrass, especially when the plant is lush and green.
Other Points of Interest
Fountaingrass was originally
introduced to the United States as an ornamental landscape plant.
It was then dispersed by vehicles, wind, water, and possibly
birds. Spreading quickly and forming dense colonies it chokes out
native plants, especially native grasses, as well as other
ornamentals. Fountaingrass is capable of carrying intense fires,
which tend to kill native desert plants. Susceptible to freezing
temperatures but is more cold tolerant than Buffelgrass.
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