Meet the Switchgrass
Switchgrass | Panicum virgatum
How do you know it’s me?:
I am a perennial, warm-season ornamental grass
I grow in an upright clump.
My blooms are finely textured, with a loose and open look. They can be 1’+ tall and form above the foliage like a cloud.
I have long, flat leaf blades with a sand-papery edge.
My leaves are alternate and generally 1/4” - 1/2” wide. They typically have white, silky hairs at the base, where they join the main stem (this is a key ID feature).
How big do I grow?: 3’ - 4’ height (up to 7’ with my blooms) and 2’ - 3’ spread.
Sun-seeker or shade-lover: Full sun. Some cultivars are more tolerant of part shade.
Where I prefer to put my roots: Moist, clay or sandy soils. I am drought tolerant, and can handle occasional flooding.
Hardiness: Zone 5-9
Original home: I am native to eastern and central North America.
Colors: My blooms are golden or creamy white, often tinged with pink or purple, My foliage can have streak of red or a bluish tint, and I can have yellow-orange fall color.
When I bloom: Summer to late fall.
Wildlife friends: I am a larval host for various butterfly species. Birds and small mammals eat my seeds in the winter.
Flora Fun Facts: I am gaining popularity and attention as a biofuel crop. I require less fossil fuel inputs than some other biofuel plants, and can grow in a variety of soil conditions.
More Info: This versatile native grass shines as an ornamental option, bringing subtle hints of color to a garden (pinks, reds, blues, or purples depending on the cultivar.) It is also a high-performer, excelling at supporting wildlife, providing structural support for soils, and adapting to a variety of conditions. In the winter, Switchgrass continues to have a visual impact with bronze-colored, upright leaves.
A member of the Poaceae family.
When grown in part shade, this plant is more likely to lose its tight form or flop over. It also is more likely to flop in overly rich soils or soils that receive a lot of moisture.
Cut back in late winter or early spring (better for the birds) to encourage new growth and tidiness. It can be cut back to a few inches above the ground.
A plant perfect for screening, meadow plantings, native or pollinator gardens, and rain gardens. Also a good selection for an area prone to erosion. Best planted in groups.
