Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’
at Digging Dog

Red Switch Grass

Panicum

Switch Grass

The Panicums we’ve chosen are warm season prairie grasses native to North America. Resistant to heat, drought, and even extreme cold, Switch Grass boasts a cloud of inflorescences—a mystifying hologram of tiny red seeds that mature to black in late summer.

If grown en masse and not cut back until early spring, Panicums promise a lively winter show. After a frost, they stiffen and adopt the warm glowing color and soft rustling sound of wheat.

Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ 

One of the best of the red Panicums, ‘Shenandoah’ was selected from ‘Hänse Herms’ seedlings by Germany’s Hans Simon. Emerging green in midsummer, slender leaves take on red hues and, come September, are thoroughly transformed. Paired with Echinops ‘Arctic Glow’, the wine-infused theme is echoed and, backlit by the long light of late afternoon, the glow is ethereal.

Blooms August–October.

Size: 4' high x 2'–2-1/2' wide; hardy to zone 4.

Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ (G-0091)
Each $8.75
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Other selections in this genus

• Panicum amarum ‘Dewey Blue’
• Panicum virgatum ‘Cloud Nine’
• Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’
• Panicum virgatum ‘Prairie Sky’
• Panicum virgatum ‘Ruby Ribbons’
• Panicum virgatum ‘Trailblazer’
• Panicum virgatum ‘Warrior’