Heavy Metal Switch Grass is a dense fast-growing ornamental grass native to the prairies of North America. The stiff upright metallic blue foliage turns yellow in fall and fades to tan in winter. In mid-summer stems holding airy clusters of tiny pink 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.
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Type: |
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Origins: |
Central and East N. America; GA Native |
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Height: |
4' - 5' |
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Spread: |
1' - 2' |
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Spacing: |
1.5’ |
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USDA Hardiness Zone: |
5 - 9 |
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Culture: |
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Bloom Color: |
Pink |
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Season of Interest: |
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, Daisy Mum
IMAGES: Photo by David J. Stang, Panicum virgatum Heavy Metal 3zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2) Photo by David J. Stang, Panicum virgatum Heavy Metal 5zz, CC BY-SA 4.0, (3) F. D. Richards, Nursery, 2021, (4) Andrey Zharkikh, 2011.10.21_15.41.55_CIMG6596
*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.
