Pennisetum alopecuroïdes Magic

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Magic' is an original and sparkling herb, with inflorescences topped by beautiful purple tufts that turn white, punctuating the landscape with small lights while swaying in the wind. Attractive from spring to autumn, it forms a lovely fountain of very fine foliage that adorns itself with beautiful autumn colors. Comfortable even in dry soil in summer, pennisetums are suitable for borders, rockeries, or terrace decoration, planted in large containers.

Pennisetum alopecuroides is a grass native to a large Northeast Asia and Australia, and belongs to the large family of Poaceae. The 'Magic' cultivar evokes a cascade of leaves and spikes, standing tall and wide at 50-60cm (20-24in). The basal clump is composed of very fine trailing leaves with a unique glaucous colour. The flowering culms emerge from the vegetation in summer, bearing characteristic inflorescences from July to September, composed of very silky spikelets, grouped in reddish-brown becoming beige spikes, 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in) long. The uniqueness of 'Magic' lies in the presence, at the top of the spikes, of a particularly developed tuft, initially purple, gradually turning white, visible from afar. The foliage also celebrates the arrival of autumn by colouring itself more or less yellow and cinnamon. The plant remains decorative during part of winter, covering the remnants of its vegetation with frost.

This fairly compact variety expresses all its delicacy by slipping between somewhat stiff perennials, such as dahlias or Perovskias, and adds a touch of flexibility to any landscape. It can also be associated with more wandering and lighter plants, such as yarrows, Verbena bonariensis, Californian poppies, or Eupatoriums.
Pennisetum alopecuroides are very hardy and drought-resistant grasses that bring movement to borders, judiciously placed between rocks in a rockery or on a wall. These grasses take on an incomparable brilliance in low light and emphasize transparency in all perspectives, even in the smallest of gardens. In a meadow, or along a path, do not deprive yourself of your sense of touch: their tufts are as silky to the touch as they appear. Pennisetum has the advantage of limiting erosion through its very dense root system.