Grow Fountain Grass in Containers – Draining Pot You Can Move

Grow Fountain Grass in Containers – Draining Pot You Can Move guide illustration

Grow fountain grass in a draining pot you can move. Bring tender purple fountain grass inside before frost.

Fountain Grass in Pots care summary diagram

Grow it in a draining pot you can move

FactorRecommendedAvoid
PotA draining pot you can still lift; three gallons or larger for a hardy clumpDo not use a pot with no holes, or a tiny pot that dries out every day
MixA potting mix that drainsDo not pack garden soil in a pot — it stays wet and smothers roots
Summer waterWater when the top of the mix is dryDo not leave the pot standing in a saucer of water
WinterCarry tender purple fountain grass inside before frostDo not leave Rubrum on a freezing porch

A compact hardy clump can live in a container if the pot drains and is at least three gallons. [1] Hameln fits that patio job. Rubrum is the tender purple kind that dies at frost unless you move the pot. [2] Sun for the genus is on How to Grow Fountain Grass.

What size pot does fountain grass need?

Use a draining pot you can still lift. A hardy clump wants at least three gallons. Tender purple fountain grass needs a pot you can carry indoors before frost.

How to keep a potted clump through summer

Set the pot in full sun. Water when the top of the mix is dry, and do not feed heavily.

  1. Use a potting mix that drains. Set the crown at the same level it grew before, not buried.
  2. Water when the top of the mix is dry. A pot dries faster than a bed. Do not leave it standing in a saucer of water. [3]
  3. Skip heavy fertilizer. Too much nitrogen makes stems flop.

Bring tender purple fountain grass in before frost

Frost kills purple fountain grass in most of the US. Treat it as a summer annual, or carry the pot inside before a freeze. [4]

  1. Before a cold night, cut the tops to a few inches if the plant will not fit the door.
  2. Move the pot to a cool, bright spot that stays above freezing. A sunny window or a cool basement both work if you keep the mix barely moist.
  3. Water about once a month, enough that the mix does not dry out, and not so much that it stays soggy.
  4. Set the pot back out after frost, and ease it into full sun over a few days.

When do I bring the pot inside?

Move tender purple fountain grass before nights drop toward frost. Waiting for the first freeze is too late. Hardy Hameln can stay outdoors.

If a freeze is in the forecast, carry tender purple fountain grass inside tonight — a cold night kills that clump.

FAQ

Can I keep the pot in a garage?

Only if the garage stays above freezing. Keep the mix barely moist. A bright window is more reliable for tender purple fountain grass.

Recommended plants

References

  1. [1] NC State Extension Gardener - https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cenchrus-alopecuroides-hameln/
  2. [2] Gardening Know How - https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/purple-fountain-grass/grow-purple-fountain-grass.htm
  3. [3] Epic Gardening - https://www.epicgardening.com/purple-fountain-grass/
  4. [4] NC State Extension Gardener - https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cenchrus-setaceus/

This note is part of Pennisetum Guides.

More container notes by plant live in Container Growing Guides.

Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors

This guide is written for real gardens, not perfect climates. Results vary with site, season, and plant choice. We draw on multiple sources and practical experience; treat the steps here as honest guidance, not a promise that every bed will behave the same.