Pennisetum setaceum

Crimson fountain grass

Family: Poaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Crimson fountain grass is a naturalized perennial herb found in coastal and desert regions including the Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Desert at elevations below 100 meters in disturbed areas. Flowering from March to December, this grass produces stunning pink to dark red panicle-like inflorescences with delicate, feathery bristles 8 to 30 centimeters long. Growing with erect stems 40 to 150 centimeters tall in dense clumps, it forms a dramatic and graceful landscape presence. Its leaves are long and slender, measuring 20 to 65 centimeters in length and 2 to 3.5 millimeters wide, with smooth upper surfaces and glabrous sheaths. The grass produces delicate spikelets 4.5 to 7 millimeters long with intricate bristles that give it a soft, fountain-like appearance.

Habitat: Disturbed areas

Bloom period: Mar-Dec

Elevation: < 100 m

Bioregions: Deltaic GV, CCo, SnFrB, SCo, TR, PR, D

California counties: San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, Ventura, Monterey, Marin, San Luis Obispo, Tuolumne, Yolo, Solano, Imperial, San Mateo, Alameda, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Fresno, Santa Cruz

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.