Pennisetum massaicum Red Bunny Tail - African feather Grass

The Pennisetum massaicum 'Red Bunny Tail', derived from an African Feather Grass, is a rather rare perennial grass, appreciated for its beautiful dark red flowering, earlier than that of usual varieties. This 'grass' with a dense, upright habit and modest in size chooses the beginning of summer to adorn itself with small feathery cylinders, brown in colour, equipped with long bristles that are pink to dark red, surpassing a tuft of very fresh green foliage. Relatively hardy, this plant tolerates all well-drained soils, even dry soils in summer, and prefers a sunny situation but tolerates partial shade. Colourful, appealing and highly decorative, it can be used in borders, as well as an annual in flower pots.

The Pennisetum massaicum is a non-spreading, non-invasive rhizomatous grass native to African savannas, from southern North Africa to northern East Africa and up to Somalia. It belongs to the large family of poaceae. The red 'Red Bunny Tail' feather grass, from which it descends, forms a beautiful cluster of leaves and spikes, reaching a height of 80 cm (32in) in flowers and a width of about 60 cm (24in). The foliage persists in mild climates, but dries up everywhere else in winter. The basal tuft is composed of flat, thin, long, slightly stiff leaves, of a beautiful light and vivid green. The flowering culms emerge from the vegetation in early summer, in June-July depending on the climate, bearing from July to September inflorescences composed of very silky spikelets, gathered in small, thick, upright plumes, 6 cm (2in) long. Their colour evolves from a summer brown-pink to a dark brown-purple in August. The plant remains decorative during part of the winter when the remnants of its entirely beige vegetation is covered with frost. Its stump will withstand short frosts of about -12/-15°C in well-drained soil, under protective mulch.

This unusual variety also expresses all its delicacy by slipping amongst slightly stiff perennials, such as dahlias, tritomas or pérovskias, and brings an additional grace to any landscape, including terrace decor. It can also be mass planted, to border a pathway. The small red 'rabbit tails' of 'Red Bunny Tail' are enhanced by the blue flowering of catmints or perennial salvias.

Pennisetum grasses provide movement to borders, judiciously placed between the stones of a large rockery or above a low wall. These grasses take on an astonishing dimension in low light and emphasize transparency in all perspectives, even in the smallest of gardens. In a flower meadow or along a pathway, do not deprive yourself of your sense of touch either: their plumes are as silky to the touch as they are to appearance. More prosaically, Pennisetum also has the advantage of stabilizing soils through its very dense root system.