Ornamental grasses?
Question:For the last three years I have bought the Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' grass. However, it is the only grass that doesn't come up again the following year, despite the assurances of the garden centres (I live in Belgium). As advised I always cut it down to 20cm as I do with all the other grasses I have and it is never below approx. -2deg. Can you possibly tell me why it doesn't ever come back please? Many thanks in advance!
Answers:
I think Belgium is on more or less the same zone as the UK - and we would tend to grow this as a half hardy annual here.
If you take it into a warmer environment over the colder months, you could well get it to survive - but it does seed fairly freely, why not try starting it from seed as well as protecting it over winter!
It sounds like it could be in the wrong zone. Sometimes perenial grasses act like annuals if they are in the wrong climate. Perhaps the garden center was ill-informed about the species.
I'm not sure if Belgium has a hardiness zone map but in the U.S. Rubrum grass is only considered hardy in zones 9-11, which is the very south of like Florida and Texas. I'm guessing that Belgium is too mild for this grass to come back.
Maybe you could not cut it back and see what happens.? I would try a different grass. Three strikes and it's out!
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