This showy and popular, ornamental perennial grass grows in dense clumps of burgundy coloured foliage with arching purple-pink flower plumes in summer. Blooms are foxtail-like arching flower plumes displayed above the foliage and produced in warm weather. This is a sterile hybrid.

Please note: This is not the plant banned from sale in NSW.

Another similar plant is Pennisetum alopecuroides, considered to be native to the Southern Tablelands.