Life Span
Annual and Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Herbaceous Perennial
  
Origin
Africa
  
China, Japan, Korea
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Sunny Edge, Warmer regions
  
Lake Sides, River side
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-11
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
  
9-4
  
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Brown, Purple, Purplish-black
  
Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Brown, Cream
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
  
Orbiculate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Early Spring, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
From Rhizomes
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
  
Keep ground moist, Requires consistently moist soil
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Pruning
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
15-0-15, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Requires high amount of nitrogen
  
Pests and Diseases
Alternaria Leaf Spot, eyespot, Red blotch
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
  
Drought, Drought and Wet Site
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Aphids, Bees, Birds
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Unknown
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Informal Hedge, Mixed Border, Showy Purposes, Wild gardens
  
Beautification
  
Beauty Benefits
No Beauty Benefits, Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
None
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Antiasthamatic, Expectorant, Miscellany
  
Part of Plant Used
Branch, Flowering Tips, Whole plant
  
Flowers, Stem
  
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, repels deer
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border
  
Bog Garden, Container, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
PENNISETUM glaucum 'purple millet'
  
PETASITES japonicus 'Argentea'
  
Common Name
Millet, Pearl Millet
  
Giant Butterbur, Japanese Butterbur, Variegated Butterbur
  
In Hindi
purple millet
  
Japanese Butterbur
  
In German
purple millet
  
japanische Pestwurz
  
In French
millet pourpre
  
Japanese Butterbur
  
In Spanish
purple millet
  
petasita japonesa
  
In Greek
purple millet
  
Japanese Butterbur
  
In Portuguese
purple millet
  
Carrapicho japonês
  
In Polish
purple millet
  
japoński Lepiężnik
  
In Latin
purple millet
  
Japanese Butterbur
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Cyperales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Pennisetum
  
Petasites
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Paniceae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Panicoideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available