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About Switchgrass and Elephant Grass


About Elephant Grass and Switchgrass


What is

Life Span
Perennial  
Perennial  

Type
Grass  
Grass  

Origin
North America, Canada, Mexico  
Middle Africa  

Types
Panicum abscissum, Panicum acostia, Panicum amarum  
Perennial Grass  

Number of Varieties
38  
99+
15  
99+

Habitat
Prairies  
Floodplains, Forest margins, Tropical regions, waterways, Wet lands, Woodlands  

USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9  
7-11  

AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1  
12 - 1  

Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23  
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  

Habit
Upright/Erect  
Clump-Forming  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
150.00 cm  
99+
120.00 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
90.00 cm  
99+
120.00 cm  
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
Green  
Sandy Brown  

Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor  
Bicolor  

Fruit Color
-  
-  

Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green  
Purple  

Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green  
Light Green  

Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Green, Orange, Blue Green, Gray Green, Bronze  
Purple  

Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown  
Purple  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Grass like  
Long Linear  

Thorns
No  
No  

Season

Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun  
Full Sun  

Growth Rate
Fast  
Very Fast  

Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand  
Clay, Loam, Sand  

The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  

Soil Drainage
Average  
Well drained  

Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer  
Summer, Late Summer  

Repeat Bloomer
No  
No  

Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction  
Cold climate, Drought, Salt  

Care

Where to Plant?
Ground  
Ground  

How to Plant?
Divison, Root Division  
Budding, Seedlings  

Plant Maintenance
Medium  
Low  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering  
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer  

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
Average  
Well drained  

Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun  
Full Sun  

Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts  

Fertilizers
Nitrogen  
Nitrogen, organic fertlizers  

Pests and Diseases
Red blotch  
Insects, Red blotch  

Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction  
Cold climate, Drought, Salt  

Facts

Flowers
Yes  
Showy  

Flower Petal Number
Single  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
Yes  
No  

Edible Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrance
  
  

Fragrant Flower
No  
No  

Fragrant Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrant Leaf
No  
No  

Fragrant Bark/Stem
No  
No  

Showy Foliage
Yes  
Yes  

Showy Bark
No  
No  

Foliage Texture
Fine  
Fine  

Foliage Sheen
Matte  
Glossy  

Evergreen
No  
No  

Invasive
No  
Yes  

Self-Sowing
Yes  
Yes  

Attracts
Birds, Wildlife  
Birds, Flying insects  

Allergy
-  
Asthma, breathing problems  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes  
-  

Beauty Benefits
-  
-  

Edible Uses
Insignificant  
Yes  

Environmental Uses
Air purification, Provides ground cover, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes  
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for animals, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak  

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
-  
Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders, Wounds  

Part of Plant Used
Leaves  
Leaves, Seeds  

Other Uses
Cattle Fodder, Used as Biofuel  
Food for animals, Used As Food  

Used As Indoor Plant
No  
No  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border  
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
PANICUM virgatum  
PENNISETUM purpureum 'Prince'  

Common Name
Switchgrass  
Elephant Grass  

In Hindi
Switchgrass  
हाथी घास  

In German
Switchgrass  
Elefantengras  

In French
switchgrass  
l'herbe à éléphant  

In Spanish
switchgrass  
pasto elefante  

In Greek
switchgrass  
ελέφαντα χόρτο  

In Portuguese
switchgrass  
capim-elefante  

In Polish
switchgrass  
trawa słoniowa  

In Latin
switchgrass  
elephanti herba  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Magnoliophyta  
Magnoliophyta  

Class
Liliopsida  
Liliopsida  

Order
Cyperales  
Poales  

Family
Poaceae  
Poaceae  

Genus
Panicum  
Pennisetum  

Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots  

Tribe
Paniceae  
Paniceae  

Subfamily
Panicoideae  
Panicoideae  

Number of Species
450  
99+
1  

Summary >>
<< Classification

Properties of Switchgrass and Elephant Grass

Wondering what are the properties of Switchgrass and Elephant Grass? We provide you with everything About Switchgrass and Elephant Grass. Switchgrass doesn't have thorns and Elephant Grass doesn't have thorns. Also Switchgrass does not have fragrant flowers. Switchgrass has allergic reactions like and Elephant Grass has allergic reactions like . Compare all the properties and characteristics of these two plants. Find out which of these plant can be used as indoor plant. If you are interested to decorate your house and garden, find out aesthetic uses, compare them and select the plant which will beautify your surrounding. Along with beautification, try comparing medicinal and edible uses of Switchgrass and Elephant Grass and you can choose the plant having best and most benefits.

Compare Grass Plants

Season and Care of Switchgrass and Elephant Grass

Season and care of Switchgrass and Elephant Grass is important to know. While considering everything about Switchgrass and Elephant Grass Care, growing season is an essential factor. Switchgrass season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Elephant Grass season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Switchgrass is Clay, Loam, Sand and for Elephant Grass is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Switchgrass is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Elephant Grass is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.

Switchgrass and Elephant Grass Physical Information

Switchgrass and Elephant Grass physical information is very important for comparison. Switchgrass height is 150.00 cm and width 90.00 cm whereas Elephant Grass height is 120.00 cm and width 120.00 cm. The color specification of Switchgrass and Elephant Grass are as follows:

Care of Switchgrass and Elephant Grass

Care of Switchgrass and Elephant Grass include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Switchgrass pruning is done Prune in spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts and Remove deadheads and Elephant Grass pruning is done Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts. In summer Switchgrass needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Elephant Grass needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.

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