Fountain Grass vs Orange Tree

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

Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides

Poaceae · grasses

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Orange Tree

Citrus sinensis

Rutaceae · trees

EdibleDeer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Fountain Grass (Zones 5-9)

Orange Tree (Zones 9-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 9–9

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Fountain Grass	Orange Tree
Scientific Name	Pennisetum alopecuroides	Citrus sinensis
Family	Poaceae	Rutaceae
Category	grasses	trees
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Well-drained, Sandy
Height	4'	30'
Spread	3'	25'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Spring
Bloom Color	Pink, Tan	White
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	East Asia, Australia	Southeast Asia, China
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Fountain Grass

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantYes — Drought Tolerant

Orange Tree

Yes — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

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.

Orange Tree

✓Protect from frost.
✓Feed with citrus fertilizer 3-4 times per year.
✓Water deeply and consistently.
✓Prune only to shape.
✓Pest management for citrus greening disease.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

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.

Choose Orange Tree if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 9–11.

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

View Fountain GrassProfile →View Orange TreeProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Fountain Grass and Orange Tree grow in the same hardiness zone?

Fountain Grass grows in USDA zones 5-9, while Orange Tree grows in zones 9-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 9 through 9.

Do Fountain Grass and Orange Tree have the same sun and water needs?

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

Which grows taller, Fountain Grass or Orange Tree?

Orange Tree grows taller at 30' compared to Fountain Grass at 4'. Orange Tree spreads 25' while Fountain Grass spreads 3'.

Are Fountain Grass and Orange Tree deer resistant?

Yes, both Fountain Grass and Orange Tree are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Fountain Grass or Orange Tree?

Fountain Grass has low maintenance while Orange Tree has medium maintenance. Fountain Grass may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

Explore More Data Tools

For adjacent public-data tools, methodology notes, and network updates, visit DataPeek Facts.

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Fountain Grass	Orange Tree
Scientific Name	Pennisetum alopecuroides	Citrus sinensis
Family	Poaceae	Rutaceae
Category	grasses	trees
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Well-drained, Sandy
Height	4'	30'
Spread	3'	25'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Spring
Bloom Color	Pink, Tan	White
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	East Asia, Australia	Southeast Asia, China
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Care Tips

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.

Orange Tree

✓Protect from frost.
✓Feed with citrus fertilizer 3-4 times per year.
✓Water deeply and consistently.
✓Prune only to shape.
✓Pest management for citrus greening disease.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

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.

Choose Orange Tree if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 9–11.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Fountain Grass and Orange Tree grow in the same hardiness zone?

Fountain Grass grows in USDA zones 5-9, while Orange Tree grows in zones 9-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 9 through 9.

Do Fountain Grass and Orange Tree have the same sun and water needs?

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

Which grows taller, Fountain Grass or Orange Tree?

Orange Tree grows taller at 30' compared to Fountain Grass at 4'. Orange Tree spreads 25' while Fountain Grass spreads 3'.

Are Fountain Grass and Orange Tree deer resistant?

Yes, both Fountain Grass and Orange Tree are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Fountain Grass or Orange Tree?

Fountain Grass has low maintenance while Orange Tree has medium maintenance. Fountain Grass may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.