Comfortable, shimmery, and vibrant, purple fountain grass is a surprising addition to any backyard. Its swish, fountain-like form is great for including texture and motion to borders, containers, and focal factors. It’s beautiful sufficient to carry its personal, however it mixes extremely properly with many different crops.
Purple fountain grass appreciates full solar publicity and desires well-drained soil. It is going to thrive on this setting, exhibiting off its most vivid coloration and fullest show of plumes. It tolerates warmth and drought excellently, so it’s simple to take care of in hotter climates, the place it acts as a perennial.
You’ll benefit from the softness and drama this plant brings to the backyard from spring till fall. However when winter comes round, there are some points to handle, because the roots should not totally cold-hardy. Relying in your local weather, purple fountain grass will require completely different therapies if you wish to overwinter it.
Let’s discuss the way to overwinter purple fountain grass to greatest carry your crops from fall to spring.
Common Chilly Tolerance
For all of its virtues, purple fountain grass is, sadly, not very cold-tolerant. It’s a young perennial that loves heat climates just like its native vary of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Center East. It grows greatest and is perennial solely in zones 9 to 11. Right here, it both stays evergreen or dies again flippantly and grows again within the spring.
Finally, in zones 8 to 10, you may overwinter this plant outdoor (with extra safety in zone 8). It’s tolerant of temperatures between 25 and 30°F (-3 to -1°C), however the crown will usually die in a tough freeze. A protracted interval of 20°F (-7°C) climate or decrease would be the loss of life of it.
Due to its tropical origins, many Northern gardeners deal with this plant as an annual, replanting within the spring. Nonetheless, you may overwinter purple fountain grass indoors. With correct care, you may overwinter this plant in most climates. It simply takes a bit extra work in areas with chilly winters.
Zones 8-10
I’m going to incorporate zone 8 in each classes, however know that purple fountain grass isn’t thought-about perennial right here. It’s indicated for zones 9 by means of 11, however with some further care and planning, you may in all probability overwinter it outdoor.
In heat climates, purple fountain grass is straightforward to overwinter. It’s a true perennial in zones 9 by means of 11, and further insulation can usually save the crown from freezing in zone 8. The hot button is to guard it from chilly snaps and moist soil whereas it’s semi-dormant.
Listed here are some steps you may take to assist overwinter your purple fountain grass in heat climates.
Resist the urge to chop the foliage again throughout fall and winter. It helps to insulate the crown of the plant, which is essentially the most very important half to its survival. Wait till spring. The dried leaves and plumes add magnificence to the winter panorama. Then minimize the foliage again to about 4 to 6 inches to make means for brand spanking new development.
Even in zones 9 by means of 11, mulch is a priceless useful resource for overwintering your purple fountain grass. It’s more likely to survive with out it, however you’ll nearly definitely lose parts of the perimeter. Add a two to three-inch layer of sunshine mulch, like pine needles or shredded leaves, across the root zone. This helps shield the roots and crown from speedy shifts in temperature.
This plant likes a dry setting. Even when it’s actively rising, it doesn’t want a lot supplemental moisture. Within the winter, it’s semi-dormant, so it wants even much less. Water solely sufficient to forestall the roots from drying out totally. An excessive amount of water combined with chilly climate is a recipe for root rot.
This one in all probability received’t assist if you have already got your purple fountain grass planted, however it bears mentioning. Should you’re planting one, intention for a location the place it has some shelter from the wind. Close to a South-facing wall is good. A well-drained raised mattress is one other great place for this decorative grass.
Don’t fertilize your purple fountain grass within the fall. This can produce new development, which won’t overwinter properly. It could actually additionally burn the roots because the plant enters semi-dormancy. Resume fertilizing within the spring after new shoots seem.
In zones 9 by means of 11, your plant could stay evergreen, particularly if it’s planted in a sheltered spot. If so, you don’t have to chop it again totally within the spring. Simply give it a trim to wash issues up, and it’ll bounce again superbly within the spring.
Zones 8 and Under
Although we make some exceptions for zone 8, purple fountain grass is actually solely meant to overwinter outdoor in zones 9 by means of 11. North of those, it’s not reliably cold-tolerant and can possible die again. In zones 8 and typically even 7, you may overwinter it outdoor with appreciable safety. There are two most important strategies for overwintering purple fountain grass, indoors and outdoor.
Technique 1: Overwintering Indoors
- You need to protect as a lot of the plant as attainable in case you’re going to overwinter it indoors. Should you hold it heat sufficient, it should behave as an evergreen. Be sure you make a plan and dig it up properly earlier than your first anticipated frost date. Dig a hearty clump, as a lot of the rootball as attainable, and put it in a big pot with a lightweight potting combine.
- If you wish to make it simpler to deal with, you may trim again the foliage to about 4 to 6 inches tall. That is elective.
- Select a location on your pot that’s cool and brightly lit. You don’t need it chilly, however a temperature of round 50°F (10°C) will hold it in a semi-dormant state and make it simpler to look after.
- Water sparingly all through the winter. The soil ought to keep nearly dry, simply moist sufficient to assist the roots whereas they’re dormant.
- You may transfer your purple fountain grass again outdoor when the temperature stays above 50-60°F (10-16°C) at evening. Step by step acclimate it again into full solar over the course of per week.
Technique 2: Overwintering Outdoor with Safety
In zone 8, this could work properly. Should you’re in zone 7 and need to give it a attempt, it is perhaps efficient, however I can’t offer you a assure. I might say that in case you’re not going to be heartbroken in case you lose it, it’s price a attempt. Should you’re hooked up to the plant, it’s higher to overwinter it indoors.
- After the primary frost, minimize the grass again to about 4 to 6 inches.
- Mulch closely across the base, use pine straw, shredded leaves, straw, or shredded wooden mulch. Pile an extra 4 to 6 inches of mulch on and across the crown to insulate it from temperature shifts.
- Cowl the stump, mulch and all, with frost material throughout any significantly chilly spells. Once more, if it’s not already planted, contemplate planting your purple fountain grass in a sheltered location the place it should get loads of solar, very first thing within the morning.
Key Takeaways
Should you’re a warm-weather gardener, it must be simple to overwinter purple fountain grass. It could even stay evergreen. In cooler climates, purple fountain grass is usually planted as an annual and replanted within the spring. Nonetheless, it may be efficiently overwintered indoors.