Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Middle Africa
North America, Canada, Mexico
Types
Perennial Grass
Panicum abscissum, Panicum acostia, Panicum amarum
Habitat
Floodplains, Forest margins, Tropical regions, waterways, Wet lands, Woodlands
Prairies
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-11
4-9
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
9 - 1
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Sandy Brown
Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Purple
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple
Red, Green, Orange, Blue Green, Gray Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple
Tan, Sandy Brown
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Grass like
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Tolerances
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Budding, Seedlings
Divison, Root Division
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune in spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, organic fertlizers
Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Birds, Flying insects
Birds, Wildlife
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems
-
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Edible Uses
Yes
Insignificant
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for animals, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Air purification, Provides ground cover, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes
Medicinal Uses
Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders, Wounds
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Leaves
Other Uses
Food for animals, Used As Food
Cattle Fodder, Used as Biofuel
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
PENNISETUM purpureum 'Prince'
PANICUM virgatum
Common Name
Elephant Grass
Switchgrass
In Hindi
हाथी घास
Switchgrass
In German
Elefantengras
Switchgrass
In French
l'herbe à éléphant
switchgrass
In Spanish
pasto elefante
switchgrass
In Greek
ελέφαντα χόρτο
switchgrass
In Portuguese
capim-elefante
switchgrass
In Polish
trawa słoniowa
switchgrass
In Latin
elephanti herba
switchgrass
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Liliopsida
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Panicoideae
Season and Care of Elephant Grass and Switchgrass
Season and care of Elephant Grass and Switchgrass is important to know. While considering everything about Elephant Grass and Switchgrass Care, growing season is an essential factor. Elephant Grass season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Switchgrass season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Elephant Grass is Clay, Loam, Sand and for Switchgrass is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Elephant Grass is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Switchgrass is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.
Elephant Grass and Switchgrass Physical Information
Elephant Grass and Switchgrass physical information is very important for comparison. Elephant Grass height is 120.00 cm and width 120.00 cm whereas Switchgrass height is 150.00 cm and width 90.00 cm. The color specification of Elephant Grass and Switchgrass are as follows:
Elephant Grass flower color: Sandy Brown
Elephant Grass leaf color: Purple
Switchgrass flower color: Green
- Switchgrass leaf color: Green, Light Green, Blue Green and Gray Green
Care of Elephant Grass and Switchgrass
Care of Elephant Grass and Switchgrass include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Elephant Grass pruning is done Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts and Switchgrass pruning is done Prune in spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts and Remove deadheads. In summer Elephant Grass needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Switchgrass needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.