This award-winning new Ornamental Millet offers spring leaves of bright chartreuse that mature through all shades of red and bronze into a burgundy-purple. Denser, bushier, and more compact than Purple Majesty, it is topped with long, dramatic purple seedheads in early summer, adding bold color to any partly-shaded setting.
The foliage is really beautiful from the moment it opens bright chartreuse in spring (and these seeds germinate in just a few days, springing right up in the garden), and as it changes to shades of red and bronze before darkening into a burgundy-purple richness. The seedheads arrive in early summer, very spiky in 9- to 12-inch plumes that are ideal in fresh and dried arrangements. Even a small planting is quite striking, and a large display is breathtaking. No wonder it has already won the University of Georgia's Best of the Best Award for superb performance in trials.
Jester is quite stocky and symmetrical. As it matures it reaches about 42 inches tall and 36 inches wide, with three main stalks and excellent branching. If you're familiar with the popular Purple Majesty, (a close relation of Jester and a fine companion planting), you'll find Jester slightly shorter, far bushier, and a week or two later to flower. (If you want the two to flower at the same time, of course, simply sow Jester about 10 days after Purple Majesty.)
Jester makes a striking edging, border standout, or perimeter planting. It is ideal for low-maintenance areas, putting on a colorful show from spring till frost with very little help from you. And if you love all those color changes, sow the seeds at two-week intervals all spring, so you'll have many colors at once for an even longer season.
Jester shows its best color in temperate and warm climates, and is suitable for containers as well as the garden. It asks only for partial shade to grow easily and beautifully. You can't go wrong with this "instant landscaping".
