Pennisetum 'Hush Puppy' is a compact fountain grass cultivar noted for its fine textured green foliage and elegantly arching form. In late summer it produces soft tan flower spikes that sway with the breeze and persist into fall adding gentle movement and seasonal structure to the garden. Its tidy mounded habit makes it an excellent choice for edging paths, softening hardscapes, or punctuating small planting spaces.
Height & Spread: 18 - 24 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Late summer to fall
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained soil
Watering Needs: Low once established
Deer Resistance: Generally unpalatable to deer
Native Status
This cultivar is derived from Pennisetum alopecuroides, a species native to Asia. Widely cultivated for ornamental use in temperate landscapes.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Songbirds are attracted to the mature seed heads in fall and winter feeding on seeds while perched among the stems.
Beneficial Insects
- The dense foliage and arching form offer shelter for beneficial ground beetles and other insect predators that thrive in grassy habitats.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 18 - 24 in apart to allow for full mounding shape and airflow between plants.
Landscape Placement
- Excellent for borders, narrow planting strips, rock gardens, and massing along pathways or retaining walls. Adds softness to modern and cottage garden designs alike.
Companion Plants
- Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' (Purple Coneflower) - Adds sturdy color and pollinator appeal beside the flowing form of ornamental grasses.
- Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' (Tickseed) - Finely textured foliage and pale yellow blooms echo the softness of 'Hush Puppy' and bloom in unison.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Wood Sage) - Offers deep purple flower spikes and vertical structure beside arching grasses.
- Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride' (Coral Bells) - Provides a broad leaf contrast in shade adjacent areas, softening transitions from sun to shade.
- Allium schoenoprasum (Chives) - Provides vertical flower heads and blue green blades to complement the grass's movement and form.