Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tender Perennial
Origin
North America, Canada, Mexico
Mexico, Central America
Types
Panicum abscissum, Panicum acostia, Panicum amarum
-
Number of Varieties
3850
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Prairies
agricultural areas, Loamy soils, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
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
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
150.00 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Green
Fuchsia
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Green, Orange, Blue Green, Gray Green, Bronze
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Oval Cordate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Dry Conditions, Soil Compaction, Sun
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, Root Division
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Do not let dry out between waterings, Do not water the foliage
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
Fertilize every three months
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Bacteria, Birds, Fungal Diseases, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Dry Conditions, Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction
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
Beetles, Bugs, Insects
Allergy
-
Acidic, allergic conjunctivitis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing
Beauty Benefits
-
Makes Hair Silkier, Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
Insignificant
Sometimes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Provides ground cover, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes
Forms dense stands, Provides ground cover, soil stabilisation
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Cattle Fodder, Used as Biofuel
Air freshner, Cosmetics, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Bedding Plant, Container, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
PANICUM virgatum
HETEROCENTRON elegans
Common Name
Switchgrass
Spanish Shawl
In Hindi
Switchgrass
Heterocentron
In German
Switchgrass
Heterocentron
In French
switchgrass
Heterocentron
In Spanish
switchgrass
Heterocentron
In Greek
switchgrass
Heterocentron
In Portuguese
switchgrass
Heterocentron
In Polish
switchgrass
Heterocentron
In Latin
switchgrass
Heterocentron
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Myrtales
Family
Poaceae
Melastomataceae
Genus
Panicum
Heterocentron
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Paniceae
Abreae
Subfamily
Panicoideae
-
Number of Species
450200
1
27800
👆🏻