Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tender Perennial
Origin
Mexico, South-Central United States, Southeastern United States
Southern Africa
Types
Dallas Blues grass, Rotstrahlbush grass
Perennial
Number of Varieties
1250
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Prairies, Roadsides, Warmer regions
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-108-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 3
10-8
Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.00 cm61.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green, Brown
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Brown
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
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
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Water frequently while growing, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
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, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune when plant is dormant, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Ladybug
Nematodes, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ladybug beetles
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Shelter for wildlife
Ethnobotanic
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Root
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
Panicum virgatum
DIETES bicolor
Common Name
Shenandoah grass, switchgrass
African iris, Fortnight lily
In Hindi
Shenandoah grass
African Iris
In German
Shenandoah grass
Afrikanische Iris
In French
Shenandoah grass
African Iris
In Spanish
Shenandoah grass
Iris africano
In Greek
Shenandoah grass
Αφρικανική Iris
In Portuguese
Shenandoah grass
Iris africano
In Polish
Shenandoah grass
Afryki Iris
In Latin
Shenandoah grass
African Iris
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Asparagales
Family
Poaceae
Iridaceae
Genus
Muhlenbergia
Dietes
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Irideae
Subfamily
-
Iridoideae
Number of Species
1300
1
27800
👆🏻