Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Sedge or Rush
  
Origin
Middle Africa
  
World/Pandemic, North America, Europe, Russia/Siberia, Africa, Asia
  
Types
Not Available
  
austrocalifornicus , effusus , laxus , pacificus , solutus
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Floodplains, Forest margins, Tropical regions, waterways, Wet lands, Woodlands
  
All sorts of environments, Banks, ditches, marshes, Shores of rivers or lakes
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-11
  
6-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
  
9-6
  
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Sandy Brown
  
Brown
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Purple
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple
  
Green, Tan, Sandy Brown
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
  
Long hair-like leaves
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Budding, Seedlings
  
Divison, reseeds
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
  
Does not require regular watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, organic fertlizers
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch
  
Free of serious pests and diseases
  
Plant Tolerance
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Yes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Flying insects
  
Bumblebees, Flying insects
  
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems
  
Unknown
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Informal Hedge, Woodland margins
  
Beauty Benefits
No Beauty Benefits
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for animals, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders, Wounds
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
  
Not Available
  
Other Uses
Food for animals, Used As Food
  
woven into the covering of tatami mats
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
  
Bog Garden, Container, Mixed Border, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
PENNISETUM purpureum 'Prince'
  
JUNCUS effusus
  
Common Name
Elephant Grass
  
Soft Rush
  
In Hindi
हाथी घास
  
Soft Rush
  
In German
Elefantengras
  
Soft Rush
  
In French
l'herbe à éléphant
  
Soft Rush
  
In Spanish
pasto elefante
  
Soft Rush
  
In Greek
ελέφαντα χόρτο
  
Soft Rush
  
In Portuguese
capim-elefante
  
Soft Rush
  
In Polish
trawa słoniowa
  
Soft Rush
  
In Latin
elephanti herba
  
Soft Rush
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Poales
  
Poales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Juncaceae
  
Genus
Pennisetum
  
Juncus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Paniceae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Panicoideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available