Foutain grass does not refer to one specific plant. Instead, the term refers to an entire genus of ornamental grasses. You can spot fountain grass by its fluffy feather-shaped flowers in late summer. Like most plants, fountain grasses can thrive and visually pop when paired with certain companion plants. These plants either aid in the growth of the original plant or just look particularly striking next to it while requiring very similar conditions and care.
When it comes to fountain grasses — including those of the purple-colored varieties — there is one particular flower that acts as the perfect companion plant: petunias. These delicate, vibrant flowers can provide complementary or coordinating colors along with contrast in height for your fountain grass. If you’ve been feeling a little bored by your ornamental grass all on its own, consider adding petunias to your garden or landscaping for the added visual interest that grasses can so sorely need.
How to plant fountain grass and petunias together
One of the aspects of petunias that make them work well as a companion plant for fountain grass is their short height, especially in the case of miniature petunia varieties. This allows them to perfectly accent tall ornamental grasses. One popular configuration is planting a grouping of fountain grass and surrounding it with a circle of petunias. The final product resembles a fountain, with the tall grass shooting up from the middle of the short flowers. It is also common to see a row of petunias in front of a row of fountain grass.
There are certain types of petunia — such as the wave variety — that are capable of spreading rapidly within one growing season to act as ground cover. This allows you to plant your fountain grass toward the back or sides of a bed and then let the petunias you plant fill in the rest of the bed over the course of weeks. Both plants do well when planted in late spring, after the risk of frost has passed.
How to care for fountain grass and petunias
Another reason that petunias pair so well with fountain grass is the fact that the two plants require very similar care, allowing them to thrive in the same bed or garden. Both petunias and fountain grass require full sun exposure — preferably for six or more hours per day. Petunias require soil that is constantly moist. You may need to water them twice a day during the hottest, sunniest days of summer. Fountain grass can thrive in soil that is moist, as long as it is well-draining.
The main difference in the care of fountain grass and petunias comes in the form of pruning. Fountain grass only needs to be trimmed once each year when it begins to produce new growth after the cool seasons have ended. Petunias will require occasional pruning throughout their growing season, especially when the plants start to appear leggy. Together, these two plants can provide the contrast your landscaping needs while living in perfect harmony behind the scenes.
