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.

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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.

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