Description
Switch Grass Characteristics
There are many varieties of Switch Grass and while similar, each have their own features.
‘Shenandoah’ has a thin base with medium to light green upright blades. The seed plumes tend to be purple. These are the smallest variety of Switch Grass.
‘Heavy Metal’ can stand almost perfectly upright and has metallic blue blades. This cultivar is particularly rigid in appearance.
‘Cloud Nine’ is one of the taller varieties, growing up to 6′ tall. It has light green blades with lightly purple tinted seed plumes. The blades are less rigid than ‘Heavy Metal’ and can slightly bend with height.
‘Prairie Sky’ has deep green blades and white-ish plumes. It is a taller variety, reaching up to 6′.
Switch Grasses are versatile ornamental grasses that can be accents pieces, planted in small groups, or planted en mass in meadows. Their height and foliage density make for effected borders and screens in small areas. Their tolerance of wet ground make them perfect for lining streams, bogs, wetlands, or ponds.
