Panicum 'Blue Fountain' – A Graceful, Vertical Grass with Stunning Blue-Gray Foliage
Panicum 'Blue Fountain', commonly known as Blue Fountain Switchgrass, is a stunning ornamental grass that brings vertical interest, texture, and striking color to your landscape. Reaching a height of 120-150 cm, this elegant grass is ideal for borders, mass plantings, or as a focal point in the garden. 'Blue Fountain' features fine, upright foliage that emerges in a unique blue-gray color, adding a cool-toned accent to the garden from spring through fall.
In late summer, Panicum 'Blue Fountain' produces airy, loose flower panicles that add a soft, feathery texture to the plant. These delicate flower clusters turn a soft tan in the fall, providing seasonal interest and a gentle contrast with the blue-gray blades. This drought-tolerant, low-maintenance grass is perfect for adding movement, color, and texture to both formal and naturalistic gardens.
Why Grow Panicum 'Blue Fountain'?
Striking Blue-Gray Foliage – The upright, blue-gray leaves create a unique cool-toned effect in the garden, offering a refreshing contrast to the warmer hues of other plants.
Vertical Growth Habit – With its graceful, upright form, 'Blue Fountain' adds height and structure to your landscape, making it an excellent choice for creating focal points, filling spaces, or enhancing borders.
Aesthetic Flower Plumes – In late summer, airy, tan-colored flower panicles develop, softening the plant's form and providing seasonal interest.
Drought-Tolerant & Low Maintenance – Once established, 'Blue Fountain' is drought-tolerant and requires little maintenance, making it ideal for gardeners seeking a hardy, easy-care grass.
Attracts Wildlife – The flowers attract pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, while the plant's seeds provide food for birds in the fall and winter.
Planting & Care Guide
Position: Panicum 'Blue Fountain' thrives in full sun to partial shade. However, for the best foliage color and flower production, plant it in a location that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.
Soil: Prefers well-drained, moist soil but is adaptable to a variety of soil types, including sandy or clay soils. It performs best in fertile, slightly acidic to neutral soil.
Watering: Water regularly when newly planted to help establish strong roots. Once established, 'Blue Fountain' is drought-tolerant and can tolerate periods of dry weather, but occasional watering during dry spells will keep it looking its best.
Maintenance:
Pruning – In late winter or early spring, cut back the previous season’s growth to the ground to make way for fresh, new growth. This helps maintain a neat appearance and encourages vigorous new growth.
Mulching helps retain moisture and suppress weeds, especially in the first year of growth. Once established, 'Blue Fountain' is fairly low-maintenance and does not require frequent care.
Fertilizing is generally unnecessary, as 'Blue Fountain' is fairly low-maintenance. However, a light application of balanced fertilizer in early spring can encourage healthy growth.
Perfect Plant Combinations
Panicum 'Blue Fountain' pairs beautifully with other ornamental grasses, such as Miscanthus, Pennisetum, or Calamagrostis, for a layered, textural garden design. It also works well with flowering perennials like Echinacea, Rudbeckia, or Aster, where its cool-toned foliage contrasts beautifully with the warm blooms of these plants. For a more naturalistic look, combine it with shrubs like Spiraea or Abelia, where the tall, graceful form of 'Blue Fountain' adds movement and height alongside more rounded, bushy shrubs.
Does the height include the pot?
No, we measure from the top of the pot to the tip of the plant except for some of the instant planted screens, in this case it will be stated in the description
How long does delivery take?
Most orders are delivered in just a few days, Smaller items are often sent with Parcelforce on a next day service, Larger items should allow up to 10 days due to the size of the items they often have to be sent on our own transport.
Where will you leave my plants?
We will leave your order at the front of your property, Parcelforce may
leave your items in a safe place if you let us know, Pallet couriers
will require a flat hard surface to deliver to, no gravel or soil, a
driveway or parking spot would be best. Most importantly Deliveries by
pallet courier will require access for a large truck (bin lorry sized)
to get near the delivery point. Deliveries sent on our own transport may come in a small van or larger truck.
