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Glite Dictionary
fountain grass

fountain grass

6.2
A tall decorative grass with long curved flower heads that people use in gardens
  • noun
  • /ˈfaʊntɪn ɡræs/
translation icon : hierba fuente
  • This is the English floral urn and we've got a purple fountain grass that was growing here this summer.
  • purple fountain grass
  • fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum)

Examples

  • OK for this one I am starting with a purple fountain grass classic.

  • In her garden, she planted fountain grass to create a beautiful display with its tall, arching flower plumes.

  • The landscape designer recommended using fountain grass for its ornamental value and ability to thrive in tropical climates.

  • During the summer, the fountain grass blooms beautifully, adding elegance to the landscaping with its striking flower plumes.

Synonyms

Pennisetum setaceum
vsfountain grass
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall garden grass with long feathery flower spikes

is the familiar garden name used for that same species in landscaping
Pennisetum ruppelii
vsfountain grass
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall garden grass that lives for many years and has long nodding flower clusters

features plumes that curve outward in an arching form

How Tall

reed
29 1.9
fountain grass
6.2
lawn
464 1.0

Surface Forms

fountain grass singular
fountain grasses plural

Morphology

fountain + grass

The phrase names a type of grass modified by 'fountain' so a learner who knows 'fountain' and 'grass' can infer it is a kind of grass with a fountain-like shape or association (i.e., ornamental, arching plumes). This follows a common noun+noun compounding pattern in English and is cross-linguistically transparent, so the overall meaning is recoverable from the parts.

Etymology

Fountain grass gets its name from the way its long leaves and flower plumes curve outward like water from a small fountain. So gardeners use the name to describe the plant and to give a 'soft, flowing' look in gardens.