Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual and Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Grass
  
Origin
World/Pandemic, Europe
  
Africa
  
Types
not available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Lake margins, Open areas, Stream side, Wet ground
  
Sunny Edge, Warmer regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-8
  
8-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 3
  
12 - 8
  
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Mat-forming
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Pink, White
  
Brown, Purple, Purplish-black
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Brown, Cream
  
Leaf Color in Spring
White, Green
  
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
White, Green
  
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Brown
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Ovate
  
Long Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Very Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Divison
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Reduce watering in winter, Requires regular watering
  
Requires 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
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth
  
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
Doesn't require fertilization when grown in rich soil
  
15-0-15, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Not Available
  
Alternaria Leaf Spot, eyespot, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
  
Deer resistant, Drought
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
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
Medium
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Yes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Bugs
  
Aphids, Bees, Birds
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Unknown
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover, Showy Purposes
  
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Informal Hedge, Mixed Border, Showy Purposes, Wild gardens
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
No Beauty Benefits, Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
None
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Branch, Flowering Tips, Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Biodiesel
  
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, repels deer
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Mixed Border
  
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border
  
Botanical Name
PHALARIS arundinacea var. picta
  
PENNISETUM glaucum 'purple millet'
  
Common Name
Canary Reedgrass, Ribbon Grass
  
Millet, Pearl Millet
  
In Hindi
Ribbon Grass
  
purple millet
  
In German
rohrglanzgras
  
purple millet
  
In French
roseau
  
millet pourpre
  
In Spanish
hierba cinta and pasto cinto
  
purple millet
  
In Greek
κορδέλα Grass
  
purple millet
  
In Portuguese
caniço-malhado
  
purple millet
  
In Polish
Wstążka Trawa
  
purple millet
  
In Latin
Ribbon Grass
  
purple millet
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Cyperales
  
Cyperales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Phalaris
  
Pennisetum
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Paniceae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Panicoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available