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