Panicum Virgatum 'Shenandoah' is a fast growing ornamental grass and perennial plant that can be grown in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5A through 9B. It matures to an average height of 3 feet to 4 feet and an average width of 3 feet to 4 feet, depending on climate and other environmental factors. It prefers growing in a location that provides full sun, morning sun with afternoon shade or morning shade with afternoon sun and grows best when planted in sand, loam, clay or silt soil that is well drained or moderately drained. In the summer and fall Shenandoah Switch Grass produces red flowers. The foliage is burgundy in color. It attracts visual attention and is resistant to deer, drought, insects, diseases, mildew and heat.

Shenandoah Switch Grass can be useful in the landscape along woodland borders, as a background, around decks, swimming pools, and other outdoor living areas, in landscape beds or islands or in small groupings and also in theme gardens, cottage gardens or perennial gardens.

More About Shenandoah Switch Grass...

Shenandoah Switch Grass, a variety of Panicum virgatum, features some of the best burgundy-red foliage of the many panicum cultivars currently available in the market. The foliage emerges bluish-green but rapidly starts turning to burgundy-red by early summer to form a compact, narrow, erect, 3 foot tall clump of foliage which is topped in summer by finely-textured, reddish-pink flower panicles which hover over the foliage like an airy cloud. The panicles turn beige as the seeds mature in fall with the seed plumes persisting well into winter. The foliage also turns beige in fall and provides good winter interest.

Shenandoah Switch Grass is ver easy to grow and maintain in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. It tolerates a wide range of soils, including dry ones, but prefers moist, sandy or clay soils. It will grow in part shade, but begins to lose its columnar form in too much shade, growing more openly and possibly falling over. So it's best to provide as much sun as possible. The only maintenance is cutting back clumps to the ground in late winter to early spring befoe new growth begins to emerge.

In smaller gardens Shenandoah Switch Grass can be used as a specimen however in larger beds it is best massed or in groups. It is a very nice addition to perennial borders, meadows, wild gardens or naturalized areas.