Pennisetum alopecuroïdes Cassian

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Cassian' is a small perennial grass full of poetry, remarkably luminous under a low sun. Its summer inflorescences, initially greenish and then beige-pink, inevitably evoke large silky and gracefully arched caterpillars, hence its name "feather grass". Appealing from spring to autumn, it forms a beautiful fountain of very fine foliage that adorns itself with beautiful autumn colours. Easy to grow and not very demanding, it is a compact and hardy variety, ideal for small sunny spaces, even in poor or occasionally dry soil in summer.

Pennisetum alopecuroides is a grass native to a large northeastern part of Asia and Australia, and belongs to the large family of Poaceae. The 'Cassian' feather grass, from which it descends, evokes a cascade of leaves and spikes, standing 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) tall and wide. The basal tuft consists of very fine trailing leaves with a peculiar glaucous colour. The flowering culms emerge from the vegetation in summer, bearing characteristic inflorescences from July to September, composed of very silky spikelets, gathered in particularly thick panicles, 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in) long. Their colour changes from spring green-white to beige-pink in September-October. The foliage also celebrates the arrival of autumn by turning bright red and orange under the sun. The plant remains decorative during part of winter by covering the remains of its vegetation with frost.

This compact variety expresses all its delicacy by slipping between somewhat rigid perennials, such as dahlias or perovskias, and brings a touch of flexibility to any landscape. It can also be associated with more wandering and lighter plants, such as yarrows or Eupatoriums.

Pennisetum alopecuroides allow for movement in flowerbeds, judiciously placed between stones in a rock garden or on a wall. These grasses take on an incomparable radiance in low light and transparently emphasize all perspectives, even in the smallest of gardens. In a meadow of flowers or along a path, don't deprive yourself of your sense of touch either: their feather-like spikes are as silky to the touch as they appear. Pennisetum also has the advantage of limiting erosion through its very dense root system.