Northwind Switch Grass is a tall fast-growing ornamental grass native to the prairies of North America. The stiff upright olive to blue-green foliage turns yellow-beige in fall. In mid-summer stems holding airy clusters of tiny yellow 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' - 6' |
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Spread: |
2' - 2.5' |
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Spacing: |
2’ |
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USDA Hardiness Zone: |
5 - 9 |
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Culture: |
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Bloom Color: |
Yellow |
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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: Tickseed, Salvia, Blanket Fower
Image: Photo by David J. Stang, Panicum virgatum Northwind 1zz, CC BY-SA 4.0
