Page 18 - Free State Winter 2021
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upright columns with green to blue-green foliage and
early blooming pinkish flowers that float above the
tall foliage. They thrive in dry to medium to wet soils in
full sun, tolerating a wide range of soil types from dry
sandy soils to moist clay soils. The plants are drought
tolerant and some have excellent salt tolerance as well.
They get their name from the sound of the grass blades
as they move in the winds. Switchgrass expands slowly
with creeping rhizomes and self-seed, but the seeds of
some of the cultivars do not grow true to the cultivar.
These grasses are deeply rooted making them an
excellent choice for erosion control. Switchgrass is also
tolerant of both dry and moist to wet soils and slightly
tolerant of salt water, allowing it to be useful planted
as erosion control along river and stream banks and
pond edges. Like most grasses, Panicum virgatum
prefers to grow in poor soils, rich soils can cause the
foliage to flop over and perform poorly. Cold tolerant
from USDA zones 4-9, the native switchgrass is also
useful to many native butterflies and small mammals.
Small to medium sized banded skippers and satyrs
use the foliage as hosts for their larva, including the
Delaware Skipper. Birds feed on the seeds during the
cold winter months and other small mammals utilize
panicum Shenandoah plants the Switchgrass for habitat and nesting materials.
GROWING WITH EDUCATION (Continued)
Panicum virgatum ‘Cheyenne Sky’ is one of many native
from the center of each clump in open and airy clouds switch grass cultivars that grow in tall stiff columns.
of loosely branched inflorescences at least 12 inches A warm season clump forming grass, ‘Cheyenne Sky
long that bloom with tiny pink-red flowers and seem grows 2 feet tall with blue-green foliage that changes to
to float above the foliage. The colorful show lasts for deep wine red early in the summer. Mid-summer brings
many weeks before they become tan seeds that persist the flower spikes with the fine textured pink tinged
through the winter. Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘White Cloud’ flower panicles that float cloud like another foot from
grows a bit larger with upright blue-green foliage. the top of the foliage. The branched panicles change to
The flowers bloom in an airy cloud of tiny white flower beige in autumn and the seed plumes remain through
that drift about a foot above the foliage bringing the most of the winter providing both color and movement
plants to 3-4 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. Another cultivar, in the landscape and a food source for birds during
Muhlenbergia capillaris Regal Mist®, is a more compact the winter months. The seeds of ‘Cheyenne Sky’ may
grower with bright green foliage and dusky pink not grow true to the cultivar. Panicum virgatum ‘Cape
flowers that rise almost 2 feet to float above the foliage. Breeze’ Switchgrass is a very compact cultivar, growing
Muhlenbergia reverchonii Undaunted® Ruby Muhly only 24-30 inches tall. It is also one of the only cultivars
grass is a compact cultivar and a seedling of ‘Autumn that stays green all summer into early autumn. The
Embers’. It grows 2 feet tall and wide and has brighter flowers are light pink in color, which fades to a soft
and more vivid coloring. straw color that glows when the light shines from
Panicum virgatum is a native switchgrass, a warm behind the flowers and seeds. ‘Cape Breeze’ is also
season clump forming grass that typically grows in stiff
18 WINTER 2021 • Free State News
