Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Little Fountain Maiden Grass, Chinese Silver Grass

Description:

A lovely selection presenting attractive, airy plumes that emerge red in mid to late summer, then turn shiny silver-white in fall; graceful, arching green leaves with silver midribs turn shades of yellow in fall; provides wonderful winter interest

Ornamental Features

Kleine Fontaine Maiden Grass features bold plumes of red flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late summer. Its attractive grassy leaves are green in colour with pointy silver spines. As an added bonus, the foliage turns gorgeous shades of yellow and in the fall. The white seed heads are carried on showy plumes with silver overtones, which are displayed in abundance from early fall to mid winter.

Landscape Attributes

Kleine Fontaine Maiden Grass is an herbaceous perennial grass with an indistinguished habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Kleine Fontaine Maiden Grass is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Vertical Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Kleine Fontaine Maiden Grass will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity extending to 6 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to be leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and should be underplanted with lower-growing perennials. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.