Poaceae
Red natal grass
Melinis repens
Also known as Pink Natal grass, Natal grass, Melinis repens, Tricholaena repens
Zones 5–9Sun Partial SunWater ModerateCare Moderate
Tropical Plants · Native Plants · Ornamental · Grass · Red · Seedheads · Tropical · African · Perennial · Border · Natal · Melinis
Pet-safeTropicalAttracts pollinators
Currently out of stock everywhereStock updated 9/6/2026
Red natal grass produces attractive reddish-pink seed heads that add color to garden borders. Prefers partial shade and regular watering during growing season. Can be aggressive in ideal conditions, so monitor spread in smaller gardens.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 4 hours
- Watering
- Water when top inch of soil feels dry · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Temperature
- -20°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 5a-9b
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Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 18 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 15 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Aldabra, Angola, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Aruba, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Burkina, Burundi, California, Cameroon
- Attracts
- Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
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