crimson fountaingrass	USDA PLANTS Symbol: PESE3 U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Grass or Grasslike
Pennisetum setaceum (Forsk.) Chiov.

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Taxonomic Rank: Liliopsida: Cyperales: Poaceae
Synonym(s): fountain grass, fountaingrass
Native Range: Africa, Asia ()
Crimson fountaingrass is a perennial, bunch grass that grows from 3-4 ft. (0.9-1.2 m) tall. Leaves are narrow, flat, arching, up to 2 ft. (0.6 m) long and purplish in color. Flowering occurs in summer through fall, when off-white/pinkish plumes develop about 1 ft. (0.3 m) above the leaves. Fruits are dry achenes with long bristles (some cultivars do not produce seed). Crimson fountaingrass is native to Africa and was introduced into Hawaii in 1914 and the southwestern United States in the 1940s. Plants were introduced as ornamentals and have now become invasive in the South.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
Weed Field Guide - USDA Forest Service

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org

Plant(s); in flower John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Invading palms John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Bunches in sun John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); plant Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); plant Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Stem(s); collar and sheath. Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Flower(s); seed head Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Flower(s); John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seed(s); seed head Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Spikelet(s); Spikelet measuring 6.8 mm long. D. Walters and C. Southwick, CPHST, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org

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State(s) Where Reported invasive.
Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database.

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U.S. National Parks where reported invasive:

Chiricahua National Monument (Arizona)
Lake Mead National Park (Nevada)
Organ Pipe National Monument (Arizona)

Invasive Listing Sources:

California Invasive Plant Council

Faith Campbell, 1998

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007

University of Hawaii, Botany Department, Hawaiian Alien Plant Studies, 1998