Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is African feather grass (Pennisetum macrourum)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called African feather grass, long-bristle fountain grass.

More about african feather grass

About African feather grass

Pennisetum macrourum · also called African feather grass, long-bristle fountain grass · flowering

African feather grass is a vigorous, clump-forming warm-season perennial with upright, arching green foliage and tall cylindrical flower spikes rising to 6 ft. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, tolerates drought once established, and is evergreen in mild climates. Note: federally listed noxious weed in the US — check local regulations before planting.

Cold limit: USDA 8–10 · RHS H3 (5–35°C)

Watch for — Root rot in wet soils: Sensitive to consistently moist or waterlogged conditions, particularly in winter. Ensure sharp drainage; do not mulch heavily over the crown. Lift and divide if centre of clump becomes congested and dies back.

What african feather grass's hardiness rating actually means

African feather grass is half-hardy (RHS H3). It survives a mild winter outdoors in a sheltered spot, but a hard frost kills it — so in colder zones it is lifted, potted, or grown as a tender plant. Its RHS rating of H3 means: Half-hardy — comes through mild UK winters outside but is killed by a hard freeze. On the US scale that maps to USDA 8–10 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −5 to 1 °C — a light, short frost only. African feather grass shrugs off cold nights but a real, sustained freeze will kill it.

Concretely, for african feather grass as it gets too cold:

Down to roughly about −5 to 1 °C it copes, especially if dry and sheltered.
A sustained hard frost collapses the top growth; whether it returns depends on whether the roots, crown or tubers froze.
Wet cold is far more lethal than dry cold for this plant — soggy, frozen soil is the usual killer.

Can african feather grass go outside or overwinter — and where?

It can live outside year-round only in the mildest, most sheltered part of USDA 8–10 or a frost-free UK microclimate.
In colder zones, grow it in a pot you can move under cover, or lift its tubers/roots and store them frost-free over winter.
A south-facing wall, free-draining soil and a dry winter position can push it a full zone hardier than the books suggest.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when african feather grass can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H3 figure above.

Frost protection for borderline african feather grass

African feather grass is right on a hardiness edge in many gardens, so if you are pushing it, these measures buy it the margin it needs:

Mulch the crown or root zone deeply with bark, straw or leaf-mould before the first hard frost.
Move container plants against a warm wall or into an unheated but frost-free porch or greenhouse.
Fleece the top growth on the coldest nights, and keep it on the dry side — dry roots survive cold far better than wet ones.
Lift dahlia-type tubers or tender crowns after the first light frost blackens the foliage and store them somewhere cool but frost-free.

African feather grass hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is african feather grass cold hardy?

African feather grass is half-hardy (RHS H3). It survives a mild winter outdoors in a sheltered spot, but a hard frost kills it — so in colder zones it is lifted, potted, or grown as a tender plant. Borderline outdoors. In its mild end of USDA 8–10 (and sheltered UK gardens) african feather grass can stay out; in colder areas it must be lifted, brought in, or treated as a frost-tender plant.

What is the minimum temperature african feather grass can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −5 to 1 °C — a light, short frost only. African feather grass shrugs off cold nights but a real, sustained freeze will kill it.

What hardiness zone is african feather grass?

African feather grass is rated USDA 8–10 and RHS H3 — Half-hardy — comes through mild UK winters outside but is killed by a hard freeze.

Can african feather grass survive winter outside?

It can live outside year-round only in the mildest, most sheltered part of USDA 8–10 or a frost-free UK microclimate. In colder zones, grow it in a pot you can move under cover, or lift its tubers/roots and store them frost-free over winter. A south-facing wall, free-draining soil and a dry winter position can push it a full zone hardier than the books suggest.

How do I protect african feather grass from frost?

Mulch the crown or root zone deeply with bark, straw or leaf-mould before the first hard frost. Move container plants against a warm wall or into an unheated but frost-free porch or greenhouse. Fleece the top growth on the coldest nights, and keep it on the dry side — dry roots survive cold far better than wet ones. Lift dahlia-type tubers or tender crowns after the first light frost blackens the foliage and store them somewhere cool but frost-free.