Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
North America, Canada, Mexico
Middle Africa
Types
Panicum abscissum, Panicum acostia, Panicum amarum
Perennial Grass
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
Flower Color
Green
Sandy Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
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
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Long Linear
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
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
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, Root Division
Budding, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
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 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
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Birds, Wildlife
Birds, Flying insects
Allergy
-
Asthma, breathing problems
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
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
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
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
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Liliopsida
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Panicoideae
Importance of Switchgrass and Elephant Grass
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Switchgrass and Elephant Grass. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Switchgrass and Elephant Grass 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 Switchgrass is whereas of Elephant Grass is Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders and Wounds. Switchgrass has beauty benefits as follows: while Elephant Grass has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Switchgrass vs Elephant Grass
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 Switchgrass vs Elephant Grass 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 Switchgrass are whereas of Elephant Grass have Asthma and breathing problems respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Switchgrass has showy fruits and Elephant Grass has no showy fruits. Also Switchgrass is flowering and Elephant Grass is not flowering . You can compare Switchgrass and Elephant Grass facts and facts of other plants too.