Switch Grass, Switchgrass, Wand Panic Grass
A stately sight in the landscape, Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass) is a clump-forming perennial grass forming an erect-stemmed and narrow clump of bright green leaves throughout the growing season. From late summer to fall, the foliage is topped with a profusion of finely-textured, reddish-purple flower panicles which hover over the foliage like an airy cloud. They persist well into fall before eventually turning beige while the foliage turns a lovely bright golden-yellow shade in fall. Ground-feeding songbirds and game birds feast on the seeds. Like many North American prairie grasses, Switch Grass is a long-lived, warm-season grower. Quite sturdy, even when dry or dormant, it stands through winter (unless your area enjoys heavy snowfalls), providing essential cover for birds. Plant it as a backdrop for a flower garden, as a hedge or screen, or in a native garden.
Hardiness |
5 - 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 11 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 |
Plant Type | Ornamental Grasses |
Plant Family | Poaceae |
Genus | Panicum |
Common names | Switchgrass |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Summer (Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
Height | 3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm) |
Spread | 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
Spacing | 24" - 36" (60cm - 90cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts, Delaware, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Northeast, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Southeast, Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, Kansas, Minnesota, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Idaho, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado |
Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Wet Soil |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Bog Gardens, Hedges And Screens, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
Hardiness |
5 - 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 11 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 |
Plant Type | Ornamental Grasses |
Plant Family | Poaceae |
Genus | Panicum |
Common names | Switchgrass |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Summer (Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
Height | 3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm) |
Spread | 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
Spacing | 24" - 36" (60cm - 90cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts, Delaware, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Northeast, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Southeast, Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, Kansas, Minnesota, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Idaho, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado |
Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Wet Soil |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Bog Gardens, Hedges And Screens, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass) do I need for my garden?
Plant | Quantity | |
---|---|---|
Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!