Panicum Virgatum Switch Grass
Switch grass is typically planted behind perennial borders as part profile a tall screen. The plant has numerous tiny panicles, which may grow high above the foliage in certain strains.
Plant Description
Switch grass is typically planted behind perennial borders as part profile a tall screen. The plant has numerous tiny panicles, which may grow high above the foliage in certain strains. These turn reddish-bronze in the autumn. It makes for ideal winter covering, and is a favored food source for wildlife, so you could expect plenty of winged visitors in the winter. Of several plants tested, Panicum was shown to be the most effective at stabilizing erosion-prone slopes.
Light Needs:
Full sun
Watering Needs:
Dry to medium watering
Average Landscape Size:
Growth Height: 36” to 60”
Growth Width: 12” to 18”
Key Feature:
Flowers in late summer
Blooms:
Fall
Landscape Uses:
Containers, vertical border, erosion, air pollution
Plant Type
Perennial
Evergreen/Deciduous
Evergreen
Foliage Color
Green
Flower Color
Light brown with yellow stamens
Blooms
Fall
Climate Zones
4-9
Average Size
36” to 48” high and wide
Growth Rate
Fast
Instructions:
Planting from bare roots and transplanting must be done from late spring to early summer, as roots will take hold only in warm soil. Planting too early in the spring may cause root rot, while planting in the fall will not give the roots enough time to take hold before winter. Cutting back should be done before the appearance of new growth, but after the cold weather is over.
Water:Dry to medium watering
Sunlight:Full sun
Special Uses
" Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. "
Albert Einstein