Grass Specifications
- Season: Perennial
- USDA Zones: 5 - 10
- Height: 72 inches
- Width: 60 inches
- Foliage Color: Grey-green
- Flower Color: Early violet tones turn to silvery-white
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Fall Color: From grey-green to bronze tones
- Soil Requirement: Well-drained soils, pH 5.8 - 7.5
- Environment: Full sun
Planting Directions
- Temperature: 68F
- Average Germ Time: 2 - 3 weeks
- Light Required: Yes
- Depth: Seeds must be covered thinly
- Sowing Rate: 5 - 6 seeds per plant
- Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
- Plant Spacing: 72 inches
- Care & Maintenance: See: Plume
Plume Grass (Erianthus Ravennae) - Plume grass has tall, arching stems make this one of the largest and most popular ornamental grasses. Also known as Ravennae Grass and Hardy Pampas Grass, it one of the tallest ornamental grasses that is hardy above Zone 6. Plume grass is readily used as a substitute for Pampas grass in the northern regions. The gray-green leaves reach a height of about 5 feet, but in late summer large, beige, feather duster like plumes reach skyward, achieving impressive heights of 6 feet. These plumes are often used in fresh and dried flower arrangements. A mature clump may number as many as 50 of these plumes. Then in autumn, foliage and stems turn from pale green to varying shades of bronze and red throughout the plant.
Plant plume ornamental grass after danger of frost has passed in the spring. Plume grass is hardy and can tolerate a wide variety of soils, but does best in well-drained soils with a neutral PH. If the soil is too wet it will considerably shorten the plants life and can lead to winter injury. Plume grass has very few insect or disease problems, so it is very easy to maintain. The plant can be divided in spring to control the size or to start new plants. Plume grass self-seeds readily, so will need to be dead-headed before the seeds drop if you don't want the plant to self-seed.
