I was surprised today to see that the generic name of "Pennisetum" was changed to "Cenchrus" for this and a few other species of Fountain-grasses. This species is native to east Asia and some of Australia. Some of this mother species are still sold at some conventional nurseries that gets about 4 to 5 feet high and about as wide, but the compact cultivar of 'Hameln' is now being sold much more often. This is a beautiful, soft clump grass species. It stays as a clump but it does sprawl on the outside by short rhizomes. It also becomes very thick and the center of the plant can die out after 10 or more years, so that this perennial should be dug up and reset when it becomes either too big and thick or when the center does weaken. It is a warm season grass so that it does not show life until mid-spring in late April to mid-May. There are reports of this species being invasive into nature or even sometimes in lawn. I have not seen it escape cultivation myself. I have seen it self-sow in gardens.

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