Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tree
Origin
North America, Canada, Mexico
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Panicum abscissum, Panicum acostia, Panicum amarum
-
Number of Varieties
381
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Prairies
Dry Forest, Lowland
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
12-10
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
H1, H2
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
150.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Green
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Green, Orange, Blue Green, Gray Green, Bronze
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, Root Division
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Wildlife
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
-
Blood purifying
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Provides ground cover, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes
Food for birds, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
anti-inflammatory, Gout, Rheumatism, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Fruits, Seeds, Wood
Other Uses
Cattle Fodder, Used as Biofuel
Used for its medicinal properties, Wood is used for ship building
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
PANICUM virgatum
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Switchgrass
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Switchgrass
Holywood
In German
Switchgrass
Holywood
In French
switchgrass
Holywood
In Spanish
switchgrass
Holywood
In Greek
switchgrass
Holywood
In Portuguese
switchgrass
Holywood
In Polish
switchgrass
Holywood
In Latin
switchgrass
Holywood
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Sapindales
Family
Poaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Panicum
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Paniceae
-
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Zygophylloideae
Number of Species
4505
1
27800
👆🏻