Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Panicum virgatum:  Switchgrass

 Location near campus:  in ornamental grass bed toward southwest corner of Master Gardener areas north  of Botanical Center Building in Nathanael Green park at the Botanical Center; also along the east and south side of the Xeriscape Garden at the corner of Linwood & National in Springfield.

·         native warm-season clump-forming perennial grass bright-green to blue-green leaves

·         leaves grow 3-5’ tall, flexible and bending over at the tips

·         inflorescence is a large, open, airy panicle with tiny flowers/seeds at tips of branches

·         winter foliage can be golden to orange in color, and panicles persist

·         needs full sun, tolerates moderate to fairly dry soils, prefers moderate fertility

·         several cultivars available with more blue foliage or redder fall color

o   cultlivars must be propagated by division, but can start species easily by seed

·         being used more and more as a source for ethanol fuels, due to dense stem production