Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum

Tall North American prairie native ornamental grass forming strict upright clumps with airy panicles of tiny pink flowers in late summer that age to tan and hold their structure through winter.

Hardiness ratings

Switchgrass hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 4–9 −34.4 °C to −1.1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 4–8 −29 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 2–6 −10 °C to 15 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Plant in prairie plantings, mixed borders, and as a vertical accent — the principal native ornamental grass of North American prairie restoration
  • Outstanding seed-eating songbird food source through winter — leave seed heads standing
  • Many coloured cultivars (‘Heavy Metal’ blue-grey, ‘Shenandoah’ red-tipped) for varied foliage colour
  • Drought tolerant once established

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Switchgrass against your zones

Reference

Switchgrass on Wikipedia