General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Wet Mesic
Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 5 to 6 feet
Plant Spread: 2 to 3 feet (60-90cm)
Leaves: Good fall color
Unusual foliage color
Deciduous
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Pink
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Late fall or early winter
Inflorescence Height: 5 to 6 feet (150-180cm)
Foliage Mound Height: 30 to 36 inches (75-90cm)
Underground structures: Rhizome
Uses: Provides winter interest
Erosion control
Dried Flower
Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Birds
Resistances: Fire Resistant

Image
Common names
  • Switchgrass
  • Switch Grass
  • Wand Panic Grass
  • Tall Panic Grass
  • Wobsqua Grass
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Panicum virgatum
  • Synonym: Panicum virgatum var. spissum

Photo Gallery
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Date: 2021-09-18
One of the more glaucous cultivars.
Location: Green Hills Preserve, south of Reading, PA
Date: 2018-07-19
top of plant
Location: West Valley City, UT
Date: 2016-08-31
Location: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Date: 2020-10-14

Date: 2021-09-04

Photo courtesy of: Tom Potterfield

Photo courtesy of: Tom Potterfield

Date: 2014-01-23
Photo courtesy of Santa Rosa Gardens. Used with permission.

Date: 2011-06-24

Photo Courtesy of Prairie Nursery. Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo Courtesy of Prairie Nursery. Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo Courtesy of Prairie Nursery. Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo Courtesy of Prairie Nursery. Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Thomas Darling Preserve near Blakeslee, PA
Date: 2019-07-01
mass along stream
Location: Blinky Lee Land Preserve in southeast PA
Date: 2015-08-15
the wild straight species
Location: Blinky Lee Land Preserve in southeast PA
Date: 2015-08-15
close shot of the wild straight species
Location: southern New Jersey
Date: 2013-08-10
the wild straight species near creek
Location: Bear Creek Preserve in northern pennsylvania
Date: 2016-09-14
the straight species
Comments:
  • Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 3, 2014 2:23 PM concerning plant:
    Panicum virgatum is a larval host plant for a variety of Skipper butterflies, including the Delaware Skipper and Leonard's Skipper.

    Its seeds benefit ground-feeding songbirds and game birds, while the leaves provide cover and nesting material.
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Feb 8, 2018 8:50 PM concerning plant:
    This is one of the major prairie grasses of the Midwest and of meadows of the East in the US. However, settlement, agriculture and development has made the original prairie and native meadow areas much smaller of their original space, and some European grasses as Kentucky Bluegrass, Tall Fescue, and Perennial Ryegrass has taken over most meadows as the major grass species. Common Switchgrass is used a lot in native meadow and prairie restorations by conservation organizations. The mother species is sold by a good number of native plant nurseries. Many conventional nurseries sell several of cultivars of this species that have more blue-colored foliage or that have blades with red tips. This grass has nice airy flower-seed inflorescences and the plant is soft to the touch with a fine texture. It does well at standing up straight. It is easy to transplant and to divide. It is a clump that slowly spreads wider. The foliage looks good in the garden or landscape during the whole winter. Cut it down in early spring. I like to light a fire to the cut crown at about 4 inches high and it helps rejuvenate this prairie species. It is a warm season grass, so it does not pop up in growth until in May. It is a lovely and easy grass.
Plant Events from our members
jhugart On May 5, 2020 Miscellaneous Event
Noticed new leaves on at least one plant today.
jhugart On May 2, 2019 Transplanted
Put in the ground. Four plants.
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