(120 days) F-1 hybrid. This 2003 AAS award-winning pearl millet accelerated the ornamental-grasses trend. Distinguished 3–5' tall background plant with deep-purple, almost black, corn-like foliage has purple seed spikes nearly a foot tall and an inch around. The immature plumes, looking like purple cattails, can be used in arrangements or left on the plant to attract birds. Tolerates hot dry weather, likes sun and can be cultured like sunflowers. Pamela and Frank Arnosky, in Growing for Market, reported that it was a sensational seller. However, they cautioned that some cuts left in their packing shed for a few days turned solid yellow with pollen that had an odor like burnt antifreeze. They advised cutting the spikes immature, just as they emerge from the last leaf, to circumvent the pollen. With all the hype, the seed is exorbitantly expensive, so we pack by seed count. Annual. ~116 seeds/g. ⑤
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