Life Span
Annual and Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Tree
  
Origin
Africa
  
North America, United States, Northwestern United States, Alaska, California, Canada
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not available
  
Habitat
Sunny Edge, Warmer regions
  
Lowland evergreen rainforest
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-11
  
4-7
  
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
  
7-1
  
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Pyramidal
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
1,370.00 cm
  
31
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Brown, Purple, Purplish-black
  
Yellow, Red, Coral
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Brown, Cream
  
Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
  
Ovate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Early Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Maritime exposure, Salt water
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Layering, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
  
Average Water Needs
  
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
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
15-0-15, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Nitrogen
  
Pests and Diseases
Alternaria Leaf Spot, eyespot, Red blotch
  
Not Available
  
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
  
Maritime exposure, Salt water
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
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
  
Yes
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Aphids, Bees, Birds
  
Insects, Not Available
  
Allergy
Unknown
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Informal Hedge, Mixed Border, Showy Purposes, Wild gardens
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
No Beauty Benefits, Not Available
  
Skin Problems
  
Edible Uses
None
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Anodyne, Appetizer, Astringent
  
Part of Plant Used
Branch, Flowering Tips, Whole plant
  
Flowers, Inner Bark, Sap
  
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, repels deer
  
Used as a dye, used for making charcoal, Used for making informal hedge
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border
  
Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
  
Botanical Name
PENNISETUM glaucum 'purple millet'
  
ALNUS rubra
  
Common Name
Millet, Pearl Millet
  
Oregon Alder, Red Alder
  
In Hindi
purple millet
  
red alder
  
In German
purple millet
  
rot-Erle
  
In French
millet pourpre
  
aulne rouge
  
In Spanish
purple millet
  
aliso rojo
  
In Greek
purple millet
  
κόκκινη σκλήθρα
  
In Portuguese
purple millet
  
amieiro vermelho
  
In Polish
purple millet
  
czerwony olcha
  
In Latin
purple millet
  
red alnus
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Cyperales
  
Fagales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Betulaceae
  
Genus
Pennisetum
  
Alnus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Paniceae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Panicoideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available