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Light Needs
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Growing Zones
- Light Requirement is Full Sun
- Height 24-30 Inches
- Width 16-20 Inches
- Use as a thriller when using in containers
- Green & white striped foliage perfect in planters!
Sky Rocket is an annual fountain grass, and in fall you'll be especially taken by its striking texture and movement when a breeze comes along. Beautiful in the landscape, or containers, or both!
Ornamental grasses get less attention than flowering annuals, but not so with Pennisetum Sky Rocket (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’). This pretty fountain grass stands out as a container thriller or landscape plant with green and white striped foliage and pink “flowers” at the end of summer or into fall. The award-winning grass tolerates summer heat and provides fall interest, holding its seed heads for a long time before the plant browns in winter.
A warm-season grass, Pennisetum Sky Rocket is an annual in all but the warmest zones temperatures no lower than 15 degrees). It reaches nearly 30 inches high and 20 inches around. The leaves grow upright and flower plumes appear above the blades, producing a fountain effect. It’s a perfect large container thriller, surrounded by low-growing flowers or grasses. Or place several in the landscape, especially in rock gardens and other natural areas. Line up several pennisetums for a border look along slopes or garden beds.
Graceful Grasses® Sky Rocket Fountain Grass Care
Plant your Pennisetum in full sun in spring after the danger of frost has passed. Place the plant so its root ball is at or slightly above the soil level. The plant requires average soil and watering. If the soil is fairly fertile and drains well, there is no need to add anything to the soil or to fertilize. For container-grown grasses, be sure to avoid watering if the container soil feels wet.
As an annual, your Pennisetum needs little care and no trimming. Gardeners can pull up the grass if it is brown and unattractive after frost or leave it until spring and then pull up and replace it. If growing the grass as a perennial, it is best to trim the grass in mid-to late spring. Gardeners can trim perennial Pennisetum in fall if desired.
Graceful Grasses® Sky Rocket Fountain Grass Spacing
Give container-grown Pennisetum plenty of room to grow, and place low-growing plants only before it to get the full effect of the pretty grass. For group plantings or border effects, space the plants 16 to 20 inches apart.
Graceful Grasses® Sky Rocket Fountain Grass Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 |
Flower Color(s): Pink |
Bloom Period: Mid Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Mid Fall |
Foliage Color(s) Green |
Foliage Description: Variegated |
Light Exposure: Full Sun |
Height Class: Medium |
Height: 24-30 Inches |
Spread: 16-20 Inches |
Spacing: 16-20 Inches |
Habit: Upright |
Watering: Average |
Drought Tolerant: No |
Container Role: Thriller |
Use Types: Container, Landscape, Mass Planting |
Features: Continuous Bloom or Rebloomer, Foliage Interest, Deadheading Not Necessary |
Maintenance: Easy |
Scientific Name: Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' USPP 21,497 |
Common Name: Graceful Grasses® 'Sky Rocket' Fountain Grass |
Other Name(s): |
Plant Type: Annual |
Brand: Proven Winners |
- SKU:
- PENSR
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
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Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
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2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
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#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
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#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
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#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
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#5 Pot
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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Best in Class Warranty
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
Arrival Guarantee
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Free 1-Year Plant Warranty
All bushes, perennials & trees come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
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Pre-Ordered Plants
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated Spring Shipping Schedule
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
---|---|
Zone 10 | March 24th |
Zone 9 | March 31st |
Zone 8 | April 7th |
Zone 7 | April 14th |
Zone 6b | April 21st |
Zone 6a | April 28th |
Zone 5b | May 5th |
Zone 5a | May 12th |
Zone 4 | May 19th |
Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants Shipping Now
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.