Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Tree
  
Origin
Africa, Middle Africa, Southern Africa, Madagascar
  
Hybrid origin
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Grassland, Sandy areas
  
Dry areas, Semi desert
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-11
  
7-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
  
9-5
  
Sunset Zone
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Burgundy, Pink, Rose
  
White, Purple, Pink, Light Pink, Lavender
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Light Pink, Tan, White
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Grass like
  
Long Elliptic
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Rooted stem cutting
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs less watering
  
Keep ground moist, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
No need to prune, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires little pruning, Requires very little pruning
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in growing season
  
Pests and Diseases
Disease free, Red blotch
  
Insects, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Shade areas
  
Drought, Heat Tolerance
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Bog Garden, Ground Cover
  
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Flowers
  
Other Uses
Not Available
  
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Bedding Plant, Cutflower, Edging, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Shade Trees
  
Botanical Name
MELINIS nerviglumis
  
X CHITALPA tashkentensis
  
Common Name
Ruby Grass, Zizka
  
Chitalpa
  
In Hindi
Zizka
  
Chitalpa संयंत्र
  
In German
Zizka
  
Chitalpa Pflanze
  
In French
Zizka
  
plante Chitalpa
  
In Spanish
Zizka
  
planta Chitalpa
  
In Greek
Zizka
  
φυτό Chitalpa
  
In Portuguese
Zizka
  
planta Chitalpa
  
In Polish
Zizka
  
Chitalpa roślin
  
In Latin
Žižka
  
Chitalpa herba
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Poales
  
Lamiales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Bignoniaceae
  
Genus
Melinis
  
Chitalpa
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Paniceae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Panicoideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available