Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tree
Origin
Africa
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Types
Pennisetum glaucum
Typical Red Buckeye, Yellow-flowered Red Buckeye
Number of Varieties
72
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Sunny Edge, Warmer regions
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-115-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
9-5
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
2a, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Brown, Purple, Purplish-black
Yellow, Red, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Cream
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Yellow, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Elliptic
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
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 dead branches
Fertilizers
15-0-15, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Alternaria Leaf Spot, eyespot, Red blotch
Leaf Blotch
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Bees, Birds
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Informal Hedge, Mixed Border, Showy Purposes, Wild gardens
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Cancer, Hypnotic, Odontalgic, Salve
Part of Plant Used
Branch, Flowering Tips, Whole plant
Seeds
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, repels deer
Grounded seed is used as a gruel, Used as a soap substitute
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break
Botanical Name
PENNISETUM glaucum 'purple millet'
AESCULUS pavia
Common Name
Millet, Pearl Millet
Red Buckeye
In Hindi
purple millet
Red Buckeye
In German
purple millet
Red Buckeye
In French
millet pourpre
Red Buckeye
In Spanish
purple millet
rojo castaño de Indias
In Greek
purple millet
κόκκινο Buckeye
In Portuguese
purple millet
Red Buckeye
In Polish
purple millet
Red Buckeye
In Latin
purple millet
Red Buckeye
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Sapindales
Family
Poaceae
Hippocastanaceae
Genus
Pennisetum
Aesculus
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Paniceae
-
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Hippocastanoideae
Number of Species
120
1
27800
👆🏻