Description

Switch Grass is most attractive in its later stages, from the emerging, purple cloud-like seed heads mid-summer to dried golden foliage in fall. Consider not cutting Switch Grass back late fall in your garden; it holds up well in heavy snow providing winter cover for small mammals and land birds.Birds will also feed on the seeds.  A dominant grass of what was the vast tallgrass North American prairie, it is clump-forming and rhizomatous.  It is an aggressive species, not suited to very small landscapes.  Switch Grass is a warm-season grass; it actively grows during the summer when soil temperatures are warm.

Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates a wide range of soils, including dry ones, but prefers moist, sandy or clay soils. Tolerates occasional flooding. May flop in overly rich soils. Generally performs best in full sun. Will grow in part shade, but begins to lose its form in too much shade, growing more openly and possibly falling over. Grows primarily in clumps, but will slowly spread by slightly creeping rhizomes. Cut back clumps to the ground in late winter to early spring. Plants may self-seed in optimum growing conditions but cultivars may not come true from seed.