Overwintering Purple Fountain Grass

Question

I live in Zone 5 (Ohio) and have read that purple fountain grass may be overwintered by digging up the crowns before the first frost and taking them inside. Is this successful? How should they be stored through winter, and should they be watered at all?

Answer 1

Not everyone has success with this; however, that doesn’t mean you can’t. Carefully dig it up and put it in a pot. Bring it in the house, clip the foliage down to about 3 inches from the top of the pot and stick it in a sunny window. Keep it moist, (but not soaking wet). Once the weather warms up enough, start hardening it off and then replant in the garden. It may not look like much for the winter, but when it goes back outside in the spring, it should regain its attractive appearance.