Common names: Fountain grass (English); Pronkgras (Afrikaans)

Origin: North Africa

Description

Large, tuft-forming, sparsely branched, perennial grass up to 1 m high. Leaves up to 40 x 3 mm, neither rigid nor spine-tipped. Flowers carried on a bristly, feathery-looking, spike-like inflorescence up to 25 cm long at stem tips, often flushed purple or pink.

Discussion

Planted as an ornamental, easily and rapidly invades a variety of habitats, replacing indigenous grasses. Common in road verges and other disturbed sites.