Switchgrass
© Mike Haddock, Kansas State University
Panicum virgatum
Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)
Switchgrass is often found with Eastern Gamagrass. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. The seedheads are reddish-purple. Leaves turn bright yellow in fall. Plants form large clumps that persist in winter.
- Scientific Name: Panicum virgatum
- Common Names: Switchgrass, Wand Panic Grass
- Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)
- Growth Habit: Perennial
- Height: 2 to 7 feet
- Leaves: Bright green
- Flowers: Green, Brown
- Bloom Time: August through November
- Wildlife Benefits: Used both for shelter and food. Leaves and seeds eaten by a number of species. Larval host for many skippers and satyrs.
© Mike Haddock, Kansas State University
Where to Find It
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Interested in adding Switchgrass to your garden? Check if this is in stock or add to cart to purchase directly from our Natives Nursery.
Notes
By Flo Hannah. Written for the July/August 2007 issue of The Naturalist
Keep a lookout for Switchgrass. This is one of our coastal prairie’s important native grasses that blooms mid-summer. Switchgrass prefers low-lying wet areas. Along with Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, and Yellow Indiangrass, Little Bluestem, Switchgrass is one of the “big four” grasses that comprise the North American prairie.
