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Ornamental Millet Jester in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Pennisetum glaucum 'Jester'

 

Ornamental Millet 'Jester'

Pennisetum glaucum - ornamental millet - is an annual grass with several stems, and leaves up to 3" wide and up to 40" long. In Summer the flowers are somewhat bottlebrush - like, at the ends of the stems, and are followed by upright clusters of little, round millet seeds follow. (This is the millet that you buy for parakeets or budgies etc. at pet stores - and wild birds like it, too.) 'Jester' has bronze foliage and 20-30cm cattail-like flower plumes that change from gold to purple as they mature.

Contributed by @franshinegee

 
plant Features
  • Ornamental Millet Jester likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Ornamental Millet Jester likes very little water

    Very little water

  • Ornamental Millet Jester is frost hardy: 23f (-5°c)

    Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)

  • Ornamental Millet Jester likes light and free draining

    Light and free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Ornamental Millet 'Jester'

Latin name

Pennisetum glaucum 'Jester'

type

Annual Grass

family

Poaceae

ph

5.0 - 7.0 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Ornamental Millet Jester likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Frost

    Ornamental Millet Jester is frost hardy: 23f (-5°c)

    Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)

  • Soil

    Ornamental Millet Jester likes light and free draining

    Light and free draining

  • Water

    Ornamental Millet Jester likes very little water

    Very little water

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Ornamental Millet Jester is 0.60meters x 0.90meters 0.60 M 0.90 M

Pennisetum glaucum 'Jester'

Pennisetum glaucum - ornamental millet - is an annual grass with several stems, and leaves up to 3" wide and up to 40" long. In Summer the flowers are somewhat bottlebrush - like, at the ends of the stems, and are followed by upright clusters of little, round millet seeds follow. (This is the millet that you buy for parakeets or budgies etc. at pet stores - and wild birds like it, too.) 'Jester' has bronze foliage and 20-30cm cattail-like flower plumes that change from gold to purple as they mature.


Planting young plants

From Mid Autumn TO Late Spring

Pennisetum are very hardy so they could be planted in the autumn, however late spring is the best time. Newly-bought plants take at least three years to clump up to a decent size and many nurseries specialising in grasses recommend planting in threes and fives. The slightest breeze will add an extra dimension to the winter garden, as well as movement, so it’s important to position all Pennisetum where they catch the light. Don’t tuck them away in deep shade.

 
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