David Austin Rose vs Fountain Grass

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

David Austin Rose

Rosa 'Graham Thomas'

Rosaceae · flowers

Medium Maintenance

Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides

Poaceae · grasses

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

David Austin Rose (Zones 5-10)

Fountain Grass (Zones 5-9)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 5–9

Detailed Comparison

Feature	David Austin Rose	Fountain Grass
Scientific Name	Rosa 'Graham Thomas'	Pennisetum alopecuroides
Family	Rosaceae	Poaceae
Category	flowers	grasses
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Well-drained	Well-drained
Height	5'	4'
Spread	4'	3'
Bloom Season	Spring-Fall	Summer-Fall
Bloom Color	Yellow	Pink, Tan
Growth Rate	Medium	Fast
Native Region	Hybrid (England)	East Asia, Australia
Maintenance	Medium	Low

Special Traits

David Austin Rose

No — EdibleNo — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Fountain Grass

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantYes — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

David Austin Rose

✓Prune to shape in late winter.
✓Benefits from regular feeding.
✓Provide good air circulation.
✓Can be trained as a short climber on pillar or wall.

Fountain Grass

✓Cut back to 6 inches in late winter before new growth.
✓Divide every 3-4 years.
✓Leave seed heads for winter interest.
✓Drought tolerant once established.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose David Austin Rose if you don't mind medium maintenance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 5–10.

Choose Fountain Grass if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 5–9.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 5–9. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

View David Austin RoseProfile →View Fountain GrassProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can David Austin Rose and Fountain Grass grow in the same hardiness zone?

David Austin Rose grows in USDA zones 5-10, while Fountain Grass grows in zones 5-9. Both plants can grow together in zones 5 through 9.

Do David Austin Rose and Fountain Grass have the same sun and water needs?

David Austin Rose needs full sun and medium water, while Fountain Grass needs full sun and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, David Austin Rose or Fountain Grass?

David Austin Rose grows taller at 5' compared to Fountain Grass at 4'. David Austin Rose spreads 4' while Fountain Grass spreads 3'.

Are David Austin Rose and Fountain Grass deer resistant?

Fountain Grass is deer resistant, but David Austin Rose is not. If deer are a concern, Fountain Grass is the better choice, or protect David Austin Rose with fencing.

Which is easier to maintain, David Austin Rose or Fountain Grass?

David Austin Rose has medium maintenance while Fountain Grass has low maintenance. Fountain Grass may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	David Austin Rose	Fountain Grass
Scientific Name	Rosa 'Graham Thomas'	Pennisetum alopecuroides
Family	Rosaceae	Poaceae
Category	flowers	grasses
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Well-drained	Well-drained
Height	5'	4'
Spread	4'	3'
Bloom Season	Spring-Fall	Summer-Fall
Bloom Color	Yellow	Pink, Tan
Growth Rate	Medium	Fast
Native Region	Hybrid (England)	East Asia, Australia
Maintenance	Medium	Low

Care Tips

David Austin Rose

✓Prune to shape in late winter.
✓Benefits from regular feeding.
✓Provide good air circulation.
✓Can be trained as a short climber on pillar or wall.

Fountain Grass

✓Cut back to 6 inches in late winter before new growth.
✓Divide every 3-4 years.
✓Leave seed heads for winter interest.
✓Drought tolerant once established.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose David Austin Rose if you don't mind medium maintenance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 5–10.

Choose Fountain Grass if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 5–9.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 5–9. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can David Austin Rose and Fountain Grass grow in the same hardiness zone?

David Austin Rose grows in USDA zones 5-10, while Fountain Grass grows in zones 5-9. Both plants can grow together in zones 5 through 9.

Do David Austin Rose and Fountain Grass have the same sun and water needs?

David Austin Rose needs full sun and medium water, while Fountain Grass needs full sun and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, David Austin Rose or Fountain Grass?

David Austin Rose grows taller at 5' compared to Fountain Grass at 4'. David Austin Rose spreads 4' while Fountain Grass spreads 3'.

Are David Austin Rose and Fountain Grass deer resistant?

Fountain Grass is deer resistant, but David Austin Rose is not. If deer are a concern, Fountain Grass is the better choice, or protect David Austin Rose with fencing.

Which is easier to maintain, David Austin Rose or Fountain Grass?

David Austin Rose has medium maintenance while Fountain Grass has low maintenance. Fountain Grass may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.