Panicum miliaceum Violaceum

Panicum miliaceum Violaceum is a striking ornamental millet grown for its richly coloured seed heads and graceful form. A fast-growing annual reaching 90 to 120cm (3 to 4ft) tall, it produces arching panicles densely packed with glossy, violet-black seeds that shimmer in sunlight. The sturdy, upright stems and broad green leaves develop a reddish tinge as the season progresses, adding depth and contrast to borders.

Easy to grow from seed and tolerant of heat and drought, it adds height, texture and a touch of the exotic to mixed plantings, cutting gardens and late-season displays. The lustrous seed heads catch the light beautifully, providing contrast against softer blooms, while the ripened seed offers a welcome feast for birds in late summer.

Highly prized by florists, Panicum miliaceum Violaceum brings structure, movement and rich colour to both fresh and dried arrangements. Strong, upright stems are easy to handle and dependable in mixed bouquets, while the seed heads dry perfectly for winter use, retaining their deep sheen and texture for many months.
When conditioned overnight in deep, cool water before arranging, the stems remain upright and the seeds hold well without shedding, giving an excellent vase life of around 10 to 14 days.
Ideal for autumn displays, wreaths and dried craft work, this elegant millet bridges the gap between ornamental grass and grain, bringing a distinctive character to both fresh and everlasting arrangements.

Sowing: Sow indoors in late winter to early spring or sow in autumn.
Sow indoors from late winter to mid-spring, 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost, or directly outdoors once the soil has warmed. Use trays or pots of good quality, free-draining compost. Scatter the seed thinly on the surface and lightly press in, as light aids germination.
Keep at 18 to 22°C (65 to 72°F). Germination usually takes 7 to 14 days.

Cultivation:
When large enough to handle, prick out and grow on in cooler conditions. Harden off carefully before planting outside once frosts have passed, spacing plants about 20cm (8in) apart. For direct sowing, sow thinly into finely prepared soil after the danger of frost has gone.
Choose a sunny position with well-drained soil, plants will will take a little part shade. They are drought tolerant once established and need little more than occasional watering in prolonged dry spells.

Harvesting for Cut Flowers:
For fresh or dried flowers, cut the stems of Panicum miliaceum ‘Violaceum’ just as the seed heads are still green and are beginning to colour or have turned colour, but before they fully ripen and while the foliage and stems are still green. Use sharp snips and stand them straight into deep, cool water. Leave them to condition for several hours or overnight in a cool, shaded spot before arranging. The strong stems last well and the seed heads hold their form without shedding. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days.
For drying, gather small bunches as soon as the panicles turn a rich violet, strip the lower leaves, and either stand the cut stems in a container so that the weight of the seed heads will curve the stems gracefully; or hang the stems upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space for two to three weeks.
When fully dry, they keep their sheen and shape beautifully for autumn arrangements, wreaths and dried displays.

Plant Uses:
Cut Flower Arranging, Fresh or Dried. Filler or textural element in bouquets and containers. Borders and beds, Naturalistic gardens, mixed grass plantings and relaxed meadow-style plantings.

Origin:
Panicum miliaceum, commonly known as Proso Millet or Broomcorn Millet, is one of the oldest cultivated grains, domesticated in Asia thousands of years ago and later grown throughout Europe for food and fodder.
The ornamental forms, such as ‘Violaceum’, were selected for their darkly pigmented seed heads and graceful panicles, which make them particularly striking in garden and florist use.

Nomenclature:
The genus name Panicum derives from classical Latin panis meaning 'bread' reflecting its long history as a cereal crop.
The species name miliaceum refers to millet itself, and ‘Violaceum’ simply means “violet-coloured,” describing the deep hue of the ripened seed heads.
It is commonly known as Proso Millet and Broomcorn Millet and also Common Millet, Hog Millet and White Millet

Panicum species :
Panicum is a large genus that contains both annual and perennial species. The 'airy filler' types are annual, while the clump-forming border grasses are perennial. The species you’re most likely to come across in gardens, cut flowers, or landscaping are:

Annual ornamentals - popular in cut-flower work: fast, airy seed heads in the same year you sow:

Panicum elegans — airy, green sprays, popular in cut flowers (fresh & dried).
Panicum capillare — soft, cloud-like seed heads, often used in floristry.
Panicum miliaceum — grown ornamentally for its seed heads, also a cereal crop.

Perennial ornamentals/landscape grasses:

Panicum virgatum — tall, upright clumps, lots of cultivars for borders and prairie planting.
Panicum amarum — coastal species, strong clumps, used for stabilising dunes but occasionally ornamental.