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
Importance of Elephant Grass and Switchgrass
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Grass and Switchgrass. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Grass and Switchgrass as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Elephant Grass is Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders and Wounds whereas of Switchgrass is . Elephant Grass has beauty benefits as follows: while Switchgrass has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Elephant Grass vs Switchgrass
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Elephant Grass vs Switchgrass and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Elephant Grass are Asthma and breathing problems whereas of Switchgrass have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Grass has no showy fruits and Switchgrass has showy fruits. Also Elephant Grass is not flowering and Switchgrass is flowering. You can compare Elephant Grass and Switchgrass facts and facts of other plants too.