Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
North America, Canada, Mexico
Europe, Morocco, Western Asia
Types
Panicum abscissum, Panicum acostia, Panicum amarum
-
Habitat
Prairies
Boggy areas, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Mountain Slopes, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
5-8
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, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Green
White, Red, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Green, Orange, Blue Green, Gray Green, Bronze
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Needle like
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison, Root Division
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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
Prune in early summer, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
Ammonium Nitrate
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Armillaria mellea, Chlorosis, Crown rot, Powdery mildew, Root rot, Rust, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought, Dry soil, Shade areas, Wet Site
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single, Double, Semi-Double
Foliage Texture
Fine
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Birds, Wildlife
Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin inflammation
Edible Uses
Insignificant
Yes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Provides ground cover, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes
Food for animals, Food for insects
Medicinal Uses
-
Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Flowers
Other Uses
Cattle Fodder, Used as Biofuel
Can be made into a herbal tea, Food for animals, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Container, Cutflower, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
PANICUM virgatum
CALLUNA vulgaris
Common Name
Switchgrass
Heather, Common heather, Ling
In German
Switchgrass
Heidekraut
In French
switchgrass
bruyère
In Spanish
switchgrass
brezo
In Greek
switchgrass
ερείκη
In Portuguese
switchgrass
urze
In Polish
switchgrass
wrzos
In Latin
switchgrass
Heather
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Ericoideae
Importance of Switchgrass and Heather
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Switchgrass and Heather. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Switchgrass and Heather 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 Heather is Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain and Urinary tract problems. Switchgrass has beauty benefits as follows: while Heather has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Switchgrass vs Heather
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 Heather 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 Heather have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Switchgrass has showy fruits and Heather has no showy fruits. Also Switchgrass is flowering and Heather is not flowering . You can compare Switchgrass and Heather facts and facts of other plants too.