Groundcover & Vines – Tall – Shenandoah Switchgrass

Shenandoah Switchgrass 

Botanical name: panicum virgatum ‘shenandoah’ 

Beginner friendly?: yes

Average size at maturity: 4 ft in height with a 2-3 ft spread 

Hardy zone: zones 4-7 

Growth rate: reaches fully mature size in 2-3 growing seasons 

Foliage color: green, yellow, red

Flower color: red/pink

Bloom time:  summer 

Pruning instructions: cut back to 1 ft above the soil line in the late winter/early spring before new growth begins to emerge 

Propagation methods: propagate by division during the spring season 

Landscape use: mass planting, background foliage, container plant 

Special features: deer resistant, salt tolerant, heat tolerant, attracts and benefits wildlife birds 

Light needs: 4-6 hours of sun per day 

Watering instructions: allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between watering sessions 

Fertilizing instructions : fertilize with compost 

Best time to plant: spring, fall 

Best type of soil: loam 

Companion plants: coneflower, coreopsis, winterberry holly, prairie dropseed 

Toxicity level: non-toxic for humans and pets, mildly toxic for farm animals in ingested in large quantities

Invasive species: no