Fountain Grass vs Oriental Lily

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

Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides

Poaceae · grasses

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Oriental Lily

Lilium orientalis

Liliaceae · bulbs

Deer ResistantLow Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Fountain Grass (Zones 5-9)

Oriental Lily (Zones 4-8)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 5–8

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Fountain Grass	Oriental Lily
Scientific Name	Pennisetum alopecuroides	Lilium orientalis
Family	Poaceae	Liliaceae
Category	grasses	bulbs
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun to Part Shade
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Rich, Acidic, Well-drained
Height	4'	4'
Spread	3'	1'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Late Summer
Bloom Color	Pink, Tan	White, Pink, Red
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	East Asia, Australia	Japan
Maintenance	Low	Low

Special Traits

Fountain Grass

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantYes — Drought Tolerant

Oriental Lily

No — 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.

Oriental Lily

✓Plant 8 inches deep.
✓Need acidic soil — add sulfur if needed.
✓Excellent cut flowers.
✓Protect from lily leaf beetle.
✓Toxic to cats.

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 Oriental Lily if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun to part shade with medium water in zones 4–8.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 5–8. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

View Fountain GrassProfile →View Oriental LilyProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Fountain Grass and Oriental Lily grow in the same hardiness zone?

Fountain Grass grows in USDA zones 5-9, while Oriental Lily grows in zones 4-8. Both plants can grow together in zones 5 through 8.

Do Fountain Grass and Oriental Lily have the same sun and water needs?

Fountain Grass needs full sun and medium water, while Oriental Lily needs full sun to part shade and medium water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Fountain Grass or Oriental Lily?

Both Fountain Grass and Oriental Lily reach approximately 4' in height, with spreads of 3' and 1' respectively.

Are Fountain Grass and Oriental Lily deer resistant?

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

Which is easier to maintain, Fountain Grass or Oriental Lily?

Both Fountain Grass and Oriental Lily have low maintenance requirements. They need a similar level of care including regular attention to watering, pruning, and soil health.

Explore More Data Tools

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

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Fountain Grass	Oriental Lily
Scientific Name	Pennisetum alopecuroides	Lilium orientalis
Family	Poaceae	Liliaceae
Category	grasses	bulbs
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun to Part Shade
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Rich, Acidic, Well-drained
Height	4'	4'
Spread	3'	1'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Late Summer
Bloom Color	Pink, Tan	White, Pink, Red
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	East Asia, Australia	Japan
Maintenance	Low	Low

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.

Oriental Lily

✓Plant 8 inches deep.
✓Need acidic soil — add sulfur if needed.
✓Excellent cut flowers.
✓Protect from lily leaf beetle.
✓Toxic to cats.

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 Oriental Lily if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun to part shade with medium water in zones 4–8.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 5–8. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Fountain Grass and Oriental Lily grow in the same hardiness zone?

Fountain Grass grows in USDA zones 5-9, while Oriental Lily grows in zones 4-8. Both plants can grow together in zones 5 through 8.

Do Fountain Grass and Oriental Lily have the same sun and water needs?

Fountain Grass needs full sun and medium water, while Oriental Lily needs full sun to part shade and medium water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Fountain Grass or Oriental Lily?

Both Fountain Grass and Oriental Lily reach approximately 4' in height, with spreads of 3' and 1' respectively.

Are Fountain Grass and Oriental Lily deer resistant?

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

Which is easier to maintain, Fountain Grass or Oriental Lily?

Both Fountain Grass and Oriental Lily have low maintenance requirements. They need a similar level of care including regular attention to watering, pruning, and soil health.