Swamp Foxtail Grass

Pennisetum Alopecuroides ‘Nafray’

‘Nafray’ Swamp Foxtail Grass, is a lovely close-clumping evergreen, perennial grass with broad bowing, dense green strappy foliage and impressive, smoky-mauve feathery foxtail flowers throughout the warmer months – from Summer to Autumn.  They are great for planting en masse or as accents in rockeries and for borders.

Nafray is a mid-sized grass native to Australia and shouldn’t be confused with the South African variety of Foxtail Grass (Pennisetum setaceum), which has been declared a noxious weed. Nafray isn’t classed as invasive although it does have a viable seed.  If you’re worried at all that it will self-seed, simply remove the old flower heads.

This is a great grass for damp areas in the garden and this is the reason they are called Swamp Foxtail Grass.  They enjoy full sun to part shade, and are best planted in a mulched garden to hold moisture in and keep the soil cool from the heat of Summer.  It’s a good idea to trim back the foliage by about half at the end of Winter. Swamp Foxtail Grass looks fantastic planted in containers too.

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