Genus
Pennisetum
23 US plant patents have been granted in this genus. 4 are already in the public domain — anyone may propagate and sell them. The next of the 19 still protected comes off patent on February 20, 2027.
On the name: Filed as Pennisetum. Now generally treated as a synonym of Cenchrus.
Still under patent — 19 cultivars
Soonest to come off patent first. You may not propagate these for sale until the date shown.
- PigletPP19074Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Piglet’UNDER PATENTFebruary 20, 2027
- Desert PlainsPP20751Pennisetum plant named ‘Desert Plains’UNDER PATENTJuly 22, 2028
- PAV300PP21693Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘PAV300’UNDER PATENTOctober 28, 2028
- Ivory FountainPP20682Pennisetum plant named ‘Ivory Fountain’UNDER PATENTNovember 12, 2028
- Tift-17PP21464Pennisetum plant named ‘Tift-17’UNDER PATENTFebruary 17, 2029
- Tifton 23-OPP21831Pennisetum plant named ‘Tifton 23-O’UNDER PATENTFebruary 17, 2029
- Sky RocketPP21497Pennisetum plant named ‘Sky Rocket’UNDER PATENTSeptember 28, 2029
- Burgundy BunnyPP21917Pennisetum plant named ‘Burgundy Bunny’UNDER PATENTNovember 24, 2029
- Cherry SparklerPP22538Pennisetum plant named ‘Cherry Sparkler’UNDER PATENTNovember 22, 2030
- Ginger LovePP26442Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Ginger Love’UNDER PATENTMarch 3, 2034
- Red RocketPP28715Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Red Rocket’UNDER PATENTSeptember 30, 2035
- JS JommenikPP27435Pennisetum plant named ‘JS Jommenik’UNDER PATENTDecember 11, 2035
- Puppy LovePP30973Pennisetum plant named ‘Puppy Love’UNDER PATENTNovember 20, 2038
- Yellow RibbonsPP31362Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Yellow Ribbons’UNDER PATENTDecember 17, 2038
- Love and RocketsPP33035Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Love and Rockets’UNDER PATENTNovember 16, 2040
- Pure EnergyPP34606Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Pure Energy’UNDER PATENTSeptember 14, 2041
- Lemon SqueezePP34634Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Lemon Squeeze’UNDER PATENTOctober 18, 2041
- Water to WinePP35189Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Water to Wine’UNDER PATENTMarch 8, 2042
- TUS022PP37007Pennisetum plant named ‘TUS022’UNDER PATENTFebruary 28, 2045
Already in the public domain — 4 cultivars
Most recently freed first. Anyone may propagate and sell these plants — though the name it is sold under may still be a live trademark.
- FireworksPP18504Pennisetum plant named ‘Fireworks’PUBLIC DOMAINAugust 28, 2026
- PrincePP18509Pennisetum purpureum plant named ‘Prince’PUBLIC DOMAINOctober 8, 2025
- PrincessPP17728Pennisetum purpureum plant named ‘Princess’PUBLIC DOMAINJuly 14, 2025
- Karley RosePP12909Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’PUBLIC DOMAINDecember 23, 2019
A patent expiring frees the plant, and its cultivar name comes with it — cultivar names cannot be trademarked, so they are always free to use. What it does not free is any brand name the plant is marketed under. Those are trademarks and renew indefinitely.