Cenchrus elegans

Description

Burgundy Giant' looks a bit like a red-leafed corn plant! It is more upright growing than other pennisetums and bears unusually large, foxtail-like pendulous flower heads, up to 12 in (0.3 m) long. The leaves are bronzy burgundy and more than 1 in (2.5 cm) wide. Stems are broad and strong for a pennisetum, and the clump, 4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m) tall, is less fountain-like than most. 'Burgundy Giant' grows quite fast and spreads nicely, and can even be grown to good effect outside its zones as an annual.