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Suggestions for plants to go with Pennisetum

lukertowerslukertowers Posts: 5
in Garden design
Hello All,

Complete rookie here.
I've got 3 beds that I'm looking to plant up.

I really like fountain grasses, but I'm struggling to understand what sort of other plants to plant along with them and if I can also plant bulbs along with them.

These beds are all in a sunny location and are quite open to the wind.

I've been around lots of garden centres, but I find a lot of the labels on plants quite confusing. They are frequently of few words; instead made up of some diagrams which aren't always clear as to their meaning. 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi @lukertowers82799 - the only problem with Pennisetums is that they aren't all fully hardy, so it will depend on where you're located as to whether they'll thrive , or even survive a winter.
    They look good with later perennials though - the 'daisy' types like Heleniums, Helinathemums and Asters, or good verticals like Crocosmia. All of those are late summer into autumn flowering. You can add other perennials too, for earlier colour, or to provide a contrast in height and width, depending on the amount of room you have. 
    You can certainly put spring bulbs in too. That helps because the beds will be quite bare until the grasses start into growth.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • lukertowerslukertowers Posts: 5
    Thank you for the suggestions @Fairygirl

    I'll give them a look. And double thanks for the nodd to winter - something I was sure to over look.

    I'll look for hardy types. That, or invest in some fleece jackets for them all.

    😀👍

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    The the most reliable Pennisetum for winter hardiness is P. Hameln.  Avoid any of the red ones as they can be vulnerable to frost and ice.  As well as the perennials that @Fairygirl has suggested you could try Euphorbia which are evergreen and will give early spring colour with either acid green or white flowers.  They enjoy the same conditions and aspect as grasses.  Persicaria would also combine well with these two plants.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Magical MeerkatMagical Meerkat Posts: 311
    I have 3 pennisetum. They love my dry sandy soil and I live in dorset so we have nice mild winters normally. I have villosum, karley rose and red buttons. All 3 are beautiful and bought from Knopl Gardens which I'd truly recommend. They sell lots of paints that you could grow with them. I have some gaura, whirling butterflies, sanguisorba, devil's bit scabious and echincea. Verbena bonariansis look good too and Asters like fairy girl says. 
    Do you have sandy dry soil? They like full sun too. I've got 1 in shade by mistake and it's miserable so will be moved soon. 
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I have Penissetum rubrum planted amongst gaura, verbena bonariensis, shrub roses and shrubby salvias. They are too tender for my winters so are planted in large plastic pots that I sink into the border then lift, shear to the base and overwinter in the garage. A bit of a faff - trust me to fall for a tender one - but I love them.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • lukertowerslukertowers Posts: 5
    Thank you @Plantminded for your suggestions.
    I will be sure to check them out.

    👍
  • lukertowerslukertowers Posts: 5
    Thank you for sharing your examples @Magical Meerkat.

    My soil is naturally heavy clay, but in these beds, I will dig them out and ensure they are well-draining.
    All of these specific beds are in full sun.

  • lukertowerslukertowers Posts: 5
    What a wonderful idea @Nollie
    How big are these pots? And when they are in the garage do you place anything in the holes over the winter period? 
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    edited September 2023
    The pots are about 40x40cm and when I lift them I just slip an identical empty one in as a placeholder, saves the soil slumping and me having to dig it out again! Although now you mention it, no reason why I couldn’t pop in a small evergreen shrub or similar.

    They are a named variety - can’t remember which, sorry - but have lovely burgundy leaves and fluffy pink flushed flowers.

    Edited to add some photos I found, I shouldn’t really be tempting you with a tender plant in need of cosseting!



    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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