Gro 'n Sell

Panicum 'Frosted Explosion'

$86.00
Tray Size: 125

This grass adds an airy texture to any bouquet or arrangement. We used to sell them by the stem at farmers market, and people lined up to pay $1 a pop for a little piece of grass! I didn't question them. 

It can reseed a bit, so if you grow it once you may never have to purchase it again. I have not found it to be overly aggressive, and little reseeding is welcomed. This is a heat lover. It will bloom on a short plant if transplanted into cold soil, so choose a ship date in the summer after soil is warm.

Seed for 'Frosted Explosion' has been hard to come by in recent years, and I'm pleased that Gro 'n Sell is now able to provide well started plugs.

Panicum capillare 

Grown in a 128 tray billed as a 125 tray

Order 8 or more weeks in advance of preferred ship date

About Tray Sizes

210 and 125 cell trays are full-sized trays, and three of these will fit in a shipping box.

50 cell trays are half-sized trays (unless otherwise noted) and two of these are the equivelent of one full sized tray. Six of these will fit in a shipping box.

18 and 32 cell trays are full sized trays specifically for our vernalized perennials. These have their own set of shipping rules (find details HERE) and cannot be combined with items grown in 210, 125, or 50 cell trays.

Growing Guides

Click here to access all of our comprehensive growing guides.


Common Name Frosted Explosion Grass (Panicum), Foxtail Millet (Setaria)
Genus  Panicum, Setaria
Species p. Elegans (Panicum), s. Italica (Setaria)
Family Poaceae
Life Cycle  Tender Annual 
Format Plugs
Plug Care Plant plugs immediately after hardening off. Do not let plugs become rootbound or dry out in their plug trays as this will negatively affect the overall success of the plant. 
Netting / Staking Not usually required. Taller varieties (Setaria) may benefit from support in windy areas. One layer of netting would suffice, but is not absolutely necessary. 
Temperature Range Warm-season grasses; thrive in temperatures between 70-90°F. Not frost-tolerant. Can be grown as an annual across the US. 
Spacing Panicum should be spaced about 9" apart, and Setaria about 6" apart. 
Soil Preference Adaptable to various soil types but performs best in well-drained, fertile soil with a neutral pH. Irrigate well through the growing season for the best quality cuts - drought conditions will result in short/stunted stems. 
Day Length Setaria is a short-day plant, flowering best as the days get shorter towards the end of summer; Panicum is an obligate long-day plant and flowers best during the long days of late spring/early summer. All ornamental grass requires full sun for the best quality cutting material.
Pinching Do not pinch. 
When to Plant Plant in the spring after all frost has passed (these annual grasses are not frost hardy). Planting into cold soil can cause small plants and short stems. For best results, wait until the soil has warmed before planting (IE when you would plant zinnias). 
Harvesting For fresh use, harvest when seed heads are fully formed but before seeds begin to shed. For drying, harvest when seed heads are mature and hang upside down somewhere dry, well ventilated and out of the sun. Setaria makes a better dried flower than panicum, which is too fine and brittle. 
Post Harvest Care For fresh use in arrangements or bouquets, place cut stems immediately into a bucket with cool water. Store in a cooler until needed.
Diseases / Insects Rarely affected by pests or diseases. Maintain good airflow to prevent fungal issues.
Bailey's Notes Ornamental grasses provide excellent texture and movement to bouquets. Their versatility makes them a must-have for any cut flower operation. 
Resources NA