Ornamental Grass – Switchgrass

Botanical name: panicum virgatum

Beginner friendly?: yes

Average size at maturity: 3 to 8 ft in height and a 2 – 3 ft spread

Bloom time: summer/fall/early winter

Hardy zone: zones 3-9

Flower color: yellow/pink/purple/green

Foliage color: green/yellow

Growth rate: reaches maturity in 3 years

Pruning instructions: trim back to 5 inches above the ground in the late fall

Propagation methods: cut a stem just below a node and place in water until roots start to emerge

Landscape use: mixes well with groundcover

Light needs: 6 – 8 hours of sun a day

Special features: great perennial border

Watering instructions: requires weekly watering

Fertilizing instructions : low in nitrogen fertilizer in the early spring

Best time to plant: spring and fall

Best type of soil: adapts to all kinds of soil

Companion plants: black eyed susan, beautyberry, stonecrop sedum

Toxicity level: non-toxic for humans and pets

Invasive species: no