Life Span
Perennial
  
Biennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Tender Perennial
  
Origin
North America, Canada, Mexico
  
Africa
  
Types
Panicum abscissum, Panicum acostia, Panicum amarum
  
Marginata, Fragrans, Draco, Cinnabari
  
Habitat
Prairies
  
Tropical regions, Warmer regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
  
10-15
  
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
  
H2, 21, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Green
  
White
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Orange
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Green, Orange, Blue Green, Gray Green, Bronze
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown
  
Purple, Burgundy, Bronze
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Grass like
  
Long Elliptic
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
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
Fast
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
  
Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Divison, Root Division
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
  
Needs watering once a week, Water once every two or three weeks
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
  
fertilize in spring, fertilize in summer, Water soluble fertilizers
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Yes
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds, Wildlife
  
Insects, Spider Mites
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Insignificant
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Provides ground cover, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes
  
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
  
Stem
  
Other Uses
Cattle Fodder, Used as Biofuel
  
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
  
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
PANICUM virgatum
  
DRACAENA fragrans
  
Common Name
Switchgrass
  
Corn Plant, Dracaena
  
In Hindi
Switchgrass
  
Dracaena
  
In German
Switchgrass
  
Dracaena
  
In French
switchgrass
  
Dracaena
  
In Spanish
switchgrass
  
Árbol de serpiente
  
In Greek
switchgrass
  
Δράκαινα
  
In Portuguese
switchgrass
  
Dracaena
  
In Polish
switchgrass
  
Dracena
  
In Latin
switchgrass
  
Dracaena
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Cyperales
  
Liliales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Agavaceae
  
Genus
Panicum
  
Dracaena
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Tribe
Paniceae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Panicoideae
  
Nolinoideae