Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Hameln Dwarf Fountain Grass: Soft Plumes Along Lavender Edges
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Hameln dwarf fountain grass is a smaller, tidier version of the classic fountain grass, and it has become a standard for gardens that do not have room for the big one. Fine, mid-green leaves arch out from the center into a neat, rounded fountain, and they glow when low morning or evening sun shines through them. In midsummer, fuzzy bottlebrush plumes open soft greenish cream and age to light tan.
Hameln at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' (formerly Pennisetum) |
| Foliage | Fine, mid-green, golden tan in fall |
| Plumes | Greenish cream aging to tan, 3 to 4 inches long |
| Size | 2 to 3 feet tall in bloom, 1 to 2 feet wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-July, peaks early August |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Recognition | RHS Award of Garden Merit |
Movement beside lavender
Lavender beds are often all mounds, which can look a bit static. A grass changes that. Hameln's fine leaves sway in every breeze, and its soft plumes catch the light, adding gentle motion to the edge of a lavender planting. The colors are quiet, green and cream, so they frame the purple instead of competing with it. The plumes arrive in mid-July, a few weeks earlier than the species, just as English lavender peaks, and they carry the bed's interest through fall and into winter.
Both plants love full sun. Hameln is a little more forgiving about soil than lavender, but it shares the same weakness for wet winter ground. Try a row along the front of a bed in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Timing: plant in spring so it establishes before winter. Fall planting is riskier for fountain grasses.
- Soil: average to fertile, well drained. It is fairly drought tolerant once established.
- Water: regularly through the first summer, then in dry spells.
- Problems: few. Occasional leaf spot or rust, and crown rot in soggy soil.
Winter strategy
Wet winter soil is the main way fountain grasses are lost in Michigan. Leave the foliage standing through winter; it protects the crown and looks lovely with frost or a dusting of snow. In early spring, cut the whole clump back to a few inches before new growth starts. A quick tip from experience: tie the clump together with twine before cutting and the cleanup goes much faster.
Cutting the plumes
The plumes are good for cutting and hold up fairly well dried. Gather a few with dried lavender stems for a soft, natural fall arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
Does it spread?
It forms a neat clump that stays put. It is smaller and tidier than the species.
How is it offered?
As a full 72-cell plug tray, ideal for edging and mass plantings. See the product page for current availability.
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