Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Perennial
  
Grass
  
Origin
Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
  
Middle Africa
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Dry areas, Prairies, Rocky areas, rocky outcrops
  
Floodplains, Forest margins, Tropical regions, waterways, Wet lands, Woodlands
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-10
  
7-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
  
12 - 1
  
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
  
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
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Purple, Burgundy, Light Green, Brown
  
Sandy Brown
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Brown
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Purple
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Purple
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Purple
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Subulate
  
Long Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Very Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Budding, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Water in morning to avoid prompting diseases
  
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch Tips, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
  
Nitrogen, organic fertlizers
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Insects, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun
  
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
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
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Yes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
  
Birds, Flying insects
  
Allergy
Rhinitis
  
Asthma, breathing problems
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Borders
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
No Beauty Benefits
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for animals, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Analgesic
  
Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders, Wounds
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
  
Leaves, Seeds
  
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Used in making tea
  
Food for animals, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Wildflower
  
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
  
Botanical Name
RATIBIDA columnifera
  
PENNISETUM purpureum 'Prince'
  
Common Name
Mexican Hat
  
Elephant Grass
  
In Hindi
Mexican Hat
  
हाथी घास
  
In German
Mexican Hat
  
Elefantengras
  
In French
Mexican Hat
  
l'herbe à éléphant
  
In Spanish
mexican Hat
  
pasto elefante
  
In Greek
Mexican Hat
  
ελέφαντα χόρτο
  
In Portuguese
Mexican Hat
  
capim-elefante
  
In Polish
Mexican Hat
  
trawa słoniowa
  
In Latin
Mexicanus Hat
  
elephanti herba
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Asterales
  
Poales
  
Family
Asteraceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Ratibida
  
Pennisetum
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Paniceae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Panicoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available