• Photo of Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' (Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln's)

Plant Profile: Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln'

Names

Fountain Grass, Hameln Dwarf Fountain Grass

  • Photo of Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' (Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln's)

Phonetic Spelling:SEN-krus al-oh-pek-yur-OH-ih-deez

Genus:Cenchrus

Species:alopecuroides

Family:Poaceae

Fountain grass is a decorative plant known for its clumping and spreading growth habit. The 'Hameln' variety of Cenchrus alopecuroides is a more compact form, featuring shorter flower spikes. Its seed heads, resembling bottle brushes, are visually appealing and can persist into the winter months, adding seasonal interest to your garden. This plant is notably resistant to deer and produces sterile seeds.

Wind serves as the primary pollinator for this species.

Fountain grass can also thrive in containers, provided they are at least 3 gallons in size. It prefers full sunlight but can adapt to partial shade, although flowering may be reduced in shadier conditions.

In late winter, it is advisable to cut the plant back to the ground.

Fortunately, there are no significant issues with insects, diseases, or other plant-related problems associated with this species.

For further details on Cenchrus alopecuroides, additional resources are available.

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' Feature Summary

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' Image Gallery

Tags

#drought tolerant
#resistant
#winter interest
#rabbit resistant
#deer resistant

Similar Plants

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' is often confused with:

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' Feature Summary

Attributes
Birds are attracted to this plant.
Perennial
Flowers
The flower spike resembles a bottle brush.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Cream/Tan
Good Cut
Showy
Good Dried
Leaves
The seed heads are very attractive, will last into winter.
Gold/Yellow
Cream/Tan
Showy
Long-lasting
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Spreading
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Wet
Occasionally Dry
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rain Garden
Water Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Accent
Specimen
Barrier
Drought
Deer
Pollution
Wet Soil
Rabbits
Erosion
Black Walnut
Container
Patio
Walkways
Slope/Bank
Pool/Hardscape
Coastal
Pond
Songbirds

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' Attributes

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Wildlife Value

Birds are attracted to this plant.

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' Flowers

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Flower Description

The flower spike resembles a bottle brush.

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Flower Color

filter_vintage
Cream/Tan
filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
White

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' Leaves

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Leaf Description

The seed heads are very attractive, will last into winter.

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Leaf Color

spa
Green

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Cream/Tan
spa
Gold/Yellow

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' Whole Plant Traits

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' Cultural Conditions

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' Stem

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln' Landscape

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln': Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees