Switchgrass

Switchgrass
(Panicum virgatum)

Height:

• 3 to 7 feet (often on the shorter end)

Bloom:

• July to October

Classification:

• Native
• Perennial

Sun:

• Full sun to part sun

Soil moisture:

• Moist to wet

Provides food for:

• Caterpillars (foliage)
• Songbirds (seeds, caterpillars and other insects)

Notes:

• Spreads by rhizomes to form a loose mat like the turf grass in your yard.
• Can be aggressive because of the way it spreads.
• Good choice for sunny, wet areas that are prone to erosion.
• The foliage is bright green in the summer and turns yellow in fall then fades to tan in winter.
• Switchgrass is a warm season grass which means that most of its growth occurs during summer and early fall.
• Provides important nesting cover and habitat for a wide range of birds during the summer.
• The vegetation remains standing throughout the winter which provides shelter to songbirds and other small wildlife.

Native Range: