switch grass

This adaptable, native grass family produces stunning, upright clumps of thick to thin, green, blue, purple and red, lance shaped foliage topped with large, showy, airy flower panicles in shades of burgundy to pink to silver from August until frost. These robust grasses supply outstanding landscape interest naturalizing in a meadow, butterfly garden, or at the edge of a wooded landscape, and provides seed for the songbirds. Look for ‘Heavy Metal’ and ‘Shenandoah’. Combines well with butterfly weed, Echinacea and stonecrop. Browse our selection of Switchgrass varieties online.

Plant in sunny, well-drained to moist, nutrient rich soil amended with organic matter like Petitti Planting Mix. Water well after planting; maintain 1” of water, once a week the first year. Use Plant-tone and Iron-tone in spring or at planting; apply Osmocote in summer. Cut back as low as possible late winter/early spring. Mulch 1-2” to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. Divide in spring when necessary. May become floppy in shade.