Dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln'

Questions about dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln'

Does dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' need sun or shade?

Dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' grows in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun a day) and part sun (4 to 6 hours of sun, including some afternoon sun).

It wants ordinary well-drained soil, of average fertility, and a good soak in dry spells. Once settled in, it stands drought.

What zones does dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' grow in?

USDA zones 5 to 9. It is hardy to zone 5, which means it survives winter nights down to about −10 °F (−23 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

When does dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers late July to mid September. As a summer flower it moves about half a week for every zone: earlier where it is warmer.

Worked out from Hopkins' bioclimatic law: spring arrives about four days later for each degree of latitude north, and one zone is roughly two degrees. A warm spring or a cold one moves any garden two weeks either way.

How far apart should dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' be planted?

2½ ft (75 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is about its full width, so each plant keeps its own outline.

It grows 2½ ft (75 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' plants do I need?

At 2½ ft apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 2 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 5 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 6 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as one, with clear ground around it: a feature plant is seen as an object, and a group of them is a thicket.

In the bed above, the planner used one in one group.

Is dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' poisonous to dogs and cats?

No toxicity is recorded for dogs, cats, horses or people, according to NC State Extension.

"Not toxic" is not "edible": a pet that eats a lot of any plant can be sick.

Is there a native plant like dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln'?

Dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' comes from East Asia, Western Australia. These North American natives come closest to doing its job:

• Blue grama 'Blonde Ambition': the same colour; a drift, not a specimen, 6 in narrower.
• Arkansas bluestar: the same job in a bed; 6 in taller, flowers mid May to early June.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

Do deer eat dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln'?

Mostly not. NC State lists it as resistant to deer. No plant is proof against a hungry deer in a hard winter, but this one is low on the menu.

Will dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' spread?

It seeds itself about; the risk of it taking over is moderate. Can self-seed in warm climates, and the species is listed as invasive in some regions. Check local guidance and remove the seed heads if seedlings appear.

What flowers after dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln'?

Dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' is over by mid September. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• Garden chrysanthemum: from mid September to late October, 24 in tall.
• Blue wood aster: from mid September to mid October, 3 ft tall.
• Montauk daisy: from mid September to late October, 3 ft tall.

What does dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' look like in winter?

Dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' turns the colour of straw and, left uncut, stands through the winter, with seed for the birds. Cut it down in late winter, before the new shoots come up.

Is dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' good for bees and butterflies?

Dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' is visited by songbirds.