Container Gardening Plants: Ornamental Millet

I realize that Ornamental Millet is an untraditional choice for a container garden plant. Its rapid growth and large size will make it unsuitable for most container combinations. I have included it, however, because of its growth and height and the fact that this is just a gorgeous plant that’s in a category all by itself. I don’t recommend this plant in traditional combination planters but in very large containers (over 36” in diameter) and in multi-container designs, this is a gem.

In addition to being a fast growing and tall vertical annual, Ornamental Millet is prized for its striking foliage color. Cultivars range from deep purple to lime green with varying sizes as well. The tallest millet can get up to 5 feet tall while the most compact variety will be around 40 inches.

As expected, height will be affected by growing conditions and length of season. I have grown the largest variety here in our short summer season, in a container, in less sun than it would prefer and still had the plant get close to 4 feet tall. That alone makes it a valuable plant in my eyes. I like a plant that grows no matter what.

The largest variety is ‘Purple Majesty' with a possible height of 5 feet. This is also the one that I got to grow to 4 feet in less than ideal conditions. It is an AAS winner so really that is no surprise. Plants with these designations are chosen for their ability to thrive in a variety of conditions and deliver consistent results. ‘Purple Majesty’ delivers. While its immature plant leaves are green (what you may see in the greenhouse), once this plant hits the sun, its leaves are a consistent deep purple throughout the summer.

‘Purple Baron’ is the perhaps the smallest cultivar of the lot and comes in at around 40”. The leaves will retain more green color in more shaded areas and be more burgandy in high sun areas.

‘Jester’ and ‘Jade Princess’ are also smaller millets with mature heights of about 36”-48”. ‘Jester’ starts out the season with chartreuse leaves that gradually turn deep burgundy by summer’s end. I have grown this plant, and while beautiful, does not adapt as well as ‘Purple Majesty’. Make sure you grow this one in its recommended conditions.

‘Jade Princess’ is the newest cultivar and was well talked about at all the horticulture seminars I attended this year. I am very excited about this cultivar! Of all the millets, this one may be best suited for larger container combos. The leaves are a gorgeous lime green throughout the growing season while the pollen-less seed heads are a beautiful burgundy contrast at season’s end.

If you have containers 36” or larger, using one of the smaller cultivars might work quite nicely as a vertical element. However, be sure to use equally fast growing and vigorous plants to balance out the design. In multi-container designs, using one or two of these beauties in a container is sure to create a fantastic focal point.