Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Diné bikéyah Chi’l nooséłígíí Bąąhą́ą́nosin
Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

Fountaingrass

Purple seedheads bending stalks of fountaingrass in grassland habitat
Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Fountaingrass is a perennial grass introduced to the southwest from Africa and Asia. It thrives in warmer, drier areas and competes with many native species as an invasive species.

Fountaingrass may grow to heights of 3 1/2 or 4 1/2 feet. The leaf sheath is about 1 1/2 to 3 inches long and smooth. Leaf blades are 8-25 inches in length but very narrow–about 1/10 of an inch with a smooth upper surface. It has low forage value.

Bunchy growth habit of fountaingrass with purple-tinged seedheads
John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org
Bushy seedheads and slender leaf blades in typical bunchgrass habit
Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Scientific Name
Pennisetum setaceum
Plant Type
Grass / Grasslike
Growing Season
Warm Season
Habitat
Grasslands
⚠
Noxious
For definitions, see the glossary.

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