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| Category: Grass |
| Family: Poaceae (Gramineae) (Grasses) |
| Origin: Africa, Central (Africa) |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Burgundy |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Synonyms: [P. 'Red Riding Hood', Hort., Cenchrus Eaton Cyn'] |
| Height: 1-3 feet |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Drought Tolerant: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation: Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Pennisetum 'Eaton Canyon' (Dwarf Red Fountain Grass) - This evergreen to semi-evergreen grass has foliage that grows 18 to 24 inches tall and has narrow red-tinged bronze foliage and reddish brown flower plumes that rise above the foliage to about 30 inches tall. It is a smaller and finer-textured plant than Red Fountain Grass, Pennisetum 'x advena 'Rubrum' but also has greener foliage. Plant in full sun and irrigate little to occasionally. Evergreen in frost free gardens and root hardy to 20-25 degrees. San Marcos Growers first offered this plant in 1994 shortly after it was introduced by Magic Growers Nursery and named for their location in Eaton Canyon of Altadena, CA. In 2001 this plant was included in EuroAmerican Nurseries' "John Greenlee Grass Collection" under the name Pennisetum 'Red Riding Hood' and is sometimes offered as Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum Compactum' or 'Rubrum Dwarf'. A great fountain grass for the smaller garden or for container gardening. Cut back in winter to early spring (even in frost free locales) to tidy up the plant. In Rick Darke's “The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes” (Timber Press, 2007) this grass is listed as a cultivar of Pennisetum 'x advena, indicating that it is a cross between Pennisetum macrostachyum and Pennisetum setaceum but we feel it likely that this plant was the result of a backcross between Pennisetum 'x advena 'Rubrum', which Magic Gardens was growing at the time, and Pennisetum setaceum, which has naturalized in the area surrounding their nursery. Though not yet listed as such in all nomenclatural databases, recent treatment of the genus Pennisetum has all species included in the genus Cenchrus, making the valid name of this hybrid Cenchrus 'Eaton Canyon'. Until such time as these new names become recognized in the horticultural trades, we have decided to continue to list this plant, which we no longer grow as Pennisetum 'Eaton Canyon'.
This description of Pennisetum 'Eaton Canyon' is based on our research and our observations of this plant growing in the nursery, in our own garden and in other gardens. We would appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written.
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