Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky' ~ Prairie Sky Switch Grass

Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky' ~ Prairie Sky Switch GrassPrairie Sky Switch Grass is a tall fast growing ornamental grass native to the prairies of North America. The stiff upright powdery blue foliage turns yellow in fall and brown in winter. In mid summer stems holding airy clusters of tiny deep red flowers raise above the foliage like a cloud which turn brown in fall and persist through winter. Prefers part sun and moist well drained soils. Type: Orn. Grass Origins: Central and East N. America; GA Native

Prairie Sky Switch Grass is a tall fast-growing ornamental grass native to the prairies of North America.  The stiff upright powdery-blue foliage turns yellow in fall and brown in winter.   In mid-summer stems holding airy clusters of tiny deep red flowers raise above the foliage like a cloud which turn brown in fall and persist through winter.  Prefers part sun and moist well-drained soils.  

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Low maintenance plant. Too much shade will lose its upright form.  Beetles and mites are occasional problems.  Root and crown rot may occur in poorly drained soils. Some susceptibility to rust.

LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, Woodland Garden, Wildlife Gardens, Bog Gardens, Rock Gardens, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS:  Blanket Flower, Sedum, Shasta Daisy

IMAGE: Photo by David J. Stang, Panicum virgatum Prairie Sky 4zz, CC BY-SA 4.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.