Principal source: Fountain Grass(Benton, 1998) and Threats to Arizona's Native Species: Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum(PESC, 2002)
Compiler: National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) & IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)
Review: Dr Curt Daehler Department of Botany University of Hawaii Honolulu, USA
Publication date: 2010-08-16
Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Cenchrus setaceus. Downloaded from http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=309 on 08-12-2024.
Physical: According to Benton (1998), \"the long-lived seeds of fountain grass make its control extremely difficult. Small infestations may be managed by uprooting plants by hand and destroying the inflorescences in order to prevent seed dispersal. Removal by hand may need to be repeated several times per year.\" PESC (2002) suggests removing seed heads to slow its spread. \"Since it seeds several times a year, vigilance is required. The only way to prevent future seed production and to reduce the threat of wildfire is to remove all C. setaceus, pulling them up by hand or digging them out with a shovel or crowbar. Disposing of the entire plant after removal will eliminate seeds caught in the leaves at the base of the plant.\"
Chemical: Extensive infestations of fountain grass are probably best controlled with the help of herbicides, especially those with some systemic activity.