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36-48" tall (48-60" with plumes) x 18-24" wide. Shenandoah Red Switchgrass is a selection of our native prairie grasses with gorgeous, colorful leaves. New growth emerges green with red tips. Gradually the entire plant turns to a rich burgundy color that appears to be aflame when backlit by the sun. Airy blooms appear in midsummer, hazy clouds floating above the leaves. It’s a real showstopper year-round, with the seedheads an important source for native wildlife during the winter. Grow as a mass planting or dotted throughout the garden or foundation bed for texture and movement. Panicum grows best in full sun, and can tolerate poor soils. Mix and match with other native perennials, such as rudbeckia, echinacea, and phlox. Leave to stand during the winter and cut back in early spring.
SKU | 11ORN |
---|---|
Common Name | Shenandoah Red Switchgrass |
Botanical Name | Panicum virgatum Shenandoah |
Zones | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
Light Requirements | Full Sun, Half Sun / Half Shade |
Flower Color | Green |
Mature Height | 36-48" tall |
Estimated Mature Spread | 36-48" wide |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Bloom Time | Foliage plant all season. Airy reddish pink plumes form in mid summer and continue through fall. |
Planting Depth | Crown of plant should rest just at or above the soil surface after watering in. |
Ships As | Potted Plant |
Foliage Color | Green |
Foliage | Upright blade-like foliage that start out green with red tips then gradually turn to shades of red and burgundy. Turns brown in fall. |
Native | Yes |
Planting Time | Spring / Summer |
Soil Type | Clay Soil, Sandy Soil, Loamy Soil, Drought/Dry Soil, Moist/Wet Soil |
Soil Moisture | Dry, Average, Moist/Wet, Well Draining |
Tolerates | Dry Sites, Wet Sites |
Advantages | Attract Birds, Containers, Native, Winter Interest, Low Maintenance, Great for Mass Plantings, Hedge / Screen |
Ideal Region | Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, West |
Neonicotinoid-Free | Yes - Learn More |
Ships to Hawaii, Alaska & Canada | No |
Shipping begins in mid April based on ground temperatures, warmest zones first.
As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat. The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and spring-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.
Perennials and spring-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your hardiness zone. Perennial and spring-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you need express shipping or have any questions, please call Customer Service toll-free at (877) 309-7333 or contact us by email.
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Comments about American Meadows Shenandoah Red Switchgrass:
Good grower for a full sun grass, but I'm still waiting for the reddish leaves to develop which are suppose to happen when planted in full sun. Also, I needed to cut some branches that were heavy and spreading out from the bottom to give it the upright shape. So far, the plant looks good and I haven't harmed it with the trimming. Would still like to see the reddish tips as shown in the picture. Because of this, I'd have to say, I would not recommend the plant, but time may still tell!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about American Meadows Shenandoah Red Switchgrass:
This warm season native cultivar is a shorter colorful version of other switch grass. Spreads slowly by rhizomes and is very maintenance free by having to cut down only once a year in early spring. Performs well in dry or moist conditions.
Displaying reviews 1-2
To determine if a plant is sufficiently cold hardy, the USDA created numbered zones indicating winter low temperatures; the lower the zone number the colder the winter.
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