Panicum virgatum
Switchgrass
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Switchgrass is a major prairie grass of the Midwest that is a handsome garden plant with dazzling fall color. It is easy to grow in varied conditions: moist, dry, sun, hot, and it tolerates clay, infertile and sandy soils. Panicum virgatum has an upright growth habit reaching three feet with a cloud of airy seed heads. Switchgrass looks spectacular covering large areas of the landscape, eliminating the need for mowing and fertilizing. Switchgrass provides food and shelter to birds and wildlife and it thrives almost maintenance free. It is a natural for meadows, abandoned areas, borders and naturalized landscapes. This quick-growing perennial grass is studied as a biofuel alternative because it can be harvested and processed to produce bio-fuel. The genus Panicum is well-loved in Europe where colorful cultivars were selected and reintroduced into the American market.
Zone
4-10
Growth Cycle
Warm
Features
- Native to North America
- Drought Tolerant
- Bioretention/Rain Gardens
- Bioswales/Vegetated swales
- Erosion control
- Meadow/Prairie Plantings
GROWER INFO & TIPS
- Growth rate: medium-fast
- Grow in 1, 2 or 3-gallon containers
- Grow in well-drained soil
- Water needs: keep evenly moist
- Fertilizing: use a slow release, medium-rate fertilizer
- Possible pests: aphids, leaf spot, rust
- Overwintering: cold frame with clear poly, keep dry; can overwinter outside if moisture level is monitored
*Note: please adapt these suggestions as needed to accommodate your local conditions.
LANDSCAPING INFO
- An original grass of the North American tallgrass prairie
- Extremely tolerant of dry conditions
- Grows in varied soils (clay, infertile, sandy)
- Used extensively in mass highway plantings, corporate and municipal landscapes, and anywhere a good-looking, low-maintenance plant is required
- Produces beautiful clouds of airy seed heads; foliage remains interesting through the fall and winter
- Requires no special attention or fertilizer (cut back in spring before new growth appears)
- Great plant for sustainable landscapes
