Shenandoah Switch Grass
Shenandoah Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’) is a stunning native ornamental grass that adds year-round interest to your garden with its beautiful, compact growth habit and vibrant foliage. Known for its narrow, upright form, Shenandoah Switch Grass starts the season with green leaves that gradually take on striking burgundy-red hues as summer progresses, intensifying to deep shades by fall. In late summer, delicate, airy, pinkish-red flower panicles emerge above the foliage, creating a soft, graceful appearance and providing valuable food for wildlife. This warm-season grass grows to about 3-4 feet tall, making it an excellent choice for adding texture, color, and height to a variety of garden settings.
Shenandoah Switch Grass is highly versatile, thriving in a range of conditions, from full sun to partial shade, and tolerates different soil types, including clay and sandy soils. It is also drought-tolerant once established, making it a low-maintenance option for waterwise gardens. As a native North American species, Shenandoah Switch Grass is well-adapted to local climates and provides critical support to native wildlife, attracting birds and beneficial insects to your garden. Its compact size and colorful foliage make it an ideal choice for borders, mass plantings, rain gardens, or as a focal point in mixed perennial beds.
In addition to its beauty, Shenandoah Switch Grass offers practical benefits, such as erosion control for slopes and a strong resistance to deer browsing. The rustling sound of its upright blades in the breeze adds a serene, natural ambiance to outdoor spaces. Whether planted in a formal landscape or a naturalistic prairie-style garden, Shenandoah Switch Grass brings vibrant, four-season appeal with its changing foliage colors and graceful flower heads, making it a standout choice for gardeners looking to add texture and movement to their landscape.
