Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Houseplants >> Plants for Details >> Grasses and Bamboo

Napier Grass 'Prince' (Pennisetum purpureum): A Dwarf, Ornamental Elephant Grass with Purple Foliage

Napier Grass 'Prince', also called Elephant Grass 'Prince', is a dwarf, ornamental cultivar of Pennisetum purpureum (PP18509), hybridized by Hanna & Ruter and introduced in 2008. Unlike the towering forage species, 'Prince' stays compact with striking purple foliage.

Compact and Colorful

This selection forms a dense clump 3–4 feet tall (vs. 10–15 feet for the species). The leaves are broad, deep purple-black, maintaining color all season. It rarely flowers in cultivation. Its compact size and dramatic foliage make it suitable for smaller gardens and containers.

Growing Conditions

Full sun, fertile soil, and regular moisture produce the best growth and color. It is a warm-season grass, hardy to about zone 8. In colder zones, grow as an annual or overwinter in a protected location. A stunning focal point for tropical-themed gardens.

Family:	Poaceae (poh-AY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus:	Pennisetum (pen-ih-SEE-tum) (Info)
Species:	purpureum (pur-PUR-ee-um) (Info)
Cultivar:	Prince
Additional cultivar information:	(PP18509)
Hybridized	by Hanna-Ruter
Registered or introduced:	2008

Grasses and Bamboo: English Rose 'The Prince': Austin's Dark Crimson Masterpiece; Purple Fountain Grass 'Rubrum' (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'); Oriental Fountain Grass 'Karley Rose' (Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose'); Purple Fountain Grass 'Fireworks' (Pennisetum setaceum 'Fireworks'); Switch Grass 'Dallas Blues' (Panicum virgatum): A Tall, Blue-Foliaged Native Grass; Switch Grass 'Dallas Blues' (Panicum virgatum): Duplicate Entry; Feather Reed Grass 'Eldorado' (Calamagrostis acutiflora): Gold-Variegated Upright Grass; Napier Grass 'Princess' (Pennisetum purpureum): A Dwarf, Purple-Foliaged Elephant Grass; Black Magic Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic'): Dramatic Dark Foliage; Elephant Ear 'Ruffles' (Colocasia esculenta): Ruffled Foliage

Garden Articles

Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana)

Japanese Blood Grass 'Rubra' (Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra')

Palm Grass (Setaria palmifolia)

Purple Fountain Grass 'Red Riding Hood' (Pennisetum setaceum 'Red Riding Hood')

Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)

Tiger Grass (Thysanolaena latifolia): A Tropical, Bamboo-Like Grass for Foliage Effect

Centipede Grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides): A Low-Maintenance, Acid-Loving Lawn Grass

Plants

Maiden Grass 'Silver Feather' (Miscanthus sinensis 'Silver Feather')

Egyptian Grass (Dactyloctenium aegyptium): A Spreading Annual Grass with Crowfoot Seed Heads

Buffalo Grass (Buchloe dactyloides): Synonym of Bouteloua dactyloides

Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax): Iconic Western Native for Fire-Adapted Landscapes

Chinese Silvergrass 'Gold Bar' (Miscanthus sinensis): Horizontal Gold Banding on Upright Foliage

Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea nana): Dwarf Australian Grasstree

Feather Grass (Stipa pennata): A European Steppe Grass with Silky, Flowing Awns