Pennisetum glaucum | Ornamental Millets

Ornamental millet adds height, rich texture, and striking dark or burgundy colors to autumn container gardens and seasonal displays. Pennisetum glaucum – To me, this plant looks like a cross between field corn (the huge leaves) and cattails (the spikes).

Purple Majesty provides purple foliage, which can be quite striking from summer into fall. If planted in a full sun location, the blades will be the darkest. Upright purple flower spikes appear above the foliage, usually in mid to late summer. More compact ‘Jade Princess’, which reaches 2-2.5 feet, is another exceptional variety with lush green blades and large, puffy purple-red spikes that curve at the tips.

Ornamental millet spikes are often cut when fresh and dried for Halloween or Thanksgiving arrangements. If the seed heads are left on, they are an excellent source of food for wild birds. Plant in well-draining soil with good moisture; avoid waterlogged conditions. Excellent as a vertical accent in beds, borders, or large patio containers. Birds adore the mature seed heads.

Green-leaved cultivars give a completely different look, while short varieties mix better with lower plants, often in smaller spaces. Birds, including goldfinches and sparrows, will eat the seeds so you may want to leave the plants in place longer than most annuals. For more restful combinations, choose soft pink or lavender-colored flowers.

The ornamental selections of millet are suitable for growing in containers or garden beds and borders. They are best planted in clumps or masses rather than as individual plants. The tall cultivars make striking backdrop plantings while the shorter types are better used as accents or edges in the front.All of the cultivars work well in large mixed containers, where they create a tropical look. Dark purple cultivars make an intense contrast to bright orange flowers, and yellow to light green flowers.