Pennisetum Villosum (Feathertop)

£9.99

Position: full sun
Soil: light, moderately fertile, well-drained soil
Rate of growth: average
Flowering period: July to September Flower colour: pale green to white
Other features: the flowers are useful for fresh or dried flower arrangements
Hardiness: half hardy (needs protection in winter)
A deciduous, perennial grass with fine leaves that form a loosely tufted bunch in spring. The greeny-white, wheat-like flowers emerge from this clump in mid summer and these are the real stars of the show. They float like little clouds above the foliage, catching the breeze and bobbing about. Their fluffy texture will soften surrounding planting schemes and they look particularly good when the sun catches them from behind. A great plant for a sensory garden as you cant help but want to touch them. A native of North Eastern tropical Africa, they are not fully hardy and may not survive the winter in colder areas, so are often grown as an annual, but they will usually self seed. They are great plants that have justifiably been given the Award of Garden Merit by the RHS.Garden care: A generous layer of mulch in autumn will help keep the roots warmer in winter. Prune back the previous years growth each spring.

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