Panicum virgatumSwitchgrass is a clumping grass that plays a vital role in the lush tallgrass prairie that once stretched across much of the state, but are now a rarer sight. This warm-season grass grows in lovely clumps and usually reaches about 3 feet in height. When flowering, it showcases delicate, pink-tinged flower panicles that can elevate the plant's height to 6 feet. In autumn, the medium green leaves bring some warmth to the landscape as they transition to vibrant yellow with hints of orange, eventually fading to a soft tan-beige in winter. As the seeds mature in the fall, the panicles turn a gentle beige, and those seed plumes stick around into winter. Switchgrass thrives in medium to wet soils and loves basking in full sun to part shade. While it can adapt to various soil types, including drier ones, it truly prefers moist, sandy, or clay soils. It's resilient enough to handle occasional flooding but might lean a bit in overly rich soils. This grass performs best in full sun. Mainly it grows in clumps, but will also gently spread through its slow, creeping rhizomes. For upkeep, it's best to cut these clumps back to the ground in late winter to early spring. Switchgrass can self-seed in ideal conditions. BONAP MAPHeight: 3’-6’Spread 2’-3’Bloom: July-FebruaryLight: Full Sun-Part ShadeWater: MediumZone: 5-9Origin: North America
