Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Fern
  
Grass
  
Origin
North America
  
North America, Canada, Mexico
  
Types
Not Available
  
Panicum abscissum, Panicum acostia, Panicum amarum
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Damp shady woods, Wet ground, Wet lands
  
Prairies
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-10
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
  
9 - 1
  
Sunset Zone
4
  
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
Arching/Fountain-shaped
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Non Flowering Plant
  
Green
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
  
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Bronze
  
Red, Green, Orange, Blue Green, Gray Green, Bronze
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Tan, Sandy Brown
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
  
Grass like
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Fall, Spring, Summer
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Pollution, Soil Compaction
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
  
Divison, Root Division
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Water Deeply, Water in morning to avoid prompting diseases, Water occasionally, Water slowly, and allow to dry completely between soakings
  
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
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Prune in spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Nitrogen
  
Pests and Diseases
Leaf curl, Leaf rust, Red blotch, Scale, Scale insects
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Pollution, Soil Compaction
  
Flowers
None
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
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
Coarse
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Birds, Wildlife
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Bog Garden, Borders
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Insignificant
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Provides ground cover, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Leaves
  
Other Uses
Not Available
  
Cattle Fodder, Used as Biofuel
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Groundcover, Mixed Border
  
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
  
Botanical Name
THELYPTERIS kunthii
  
PANICUM virgatum
  
Common Name
Kunth's maiden fern, southern shield fern, maiden ferns
  
Switchgrass
  
In Hindi
Southern Shield Fern
  
Switchgrass
  
In German
Southern Shield Fern
  
Switchgrass
  
In French
Southern Shield Fern
  
switchgrass
  
In Spanish
Southern Shield Fern
  
switchgrass
  
In Greek
Southern Shield Fern
  
switchgrass
  
In Portuguese
Southern Shield Fern
  
switchgrass
  
In Polish
Southern Shield Fern
  
switchgrass
  
In Latin
Southern Shield Fern
  
switchgrass
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Angiosperms
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Polypodiopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Polypodiales
  
Cyperales
  
Family
Thelypteridaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Thelypteris
  
Panicum
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Paniceae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Panicoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available