Heavy Metal Switch Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'
Plant Details:
Plant Type: Ornamental Grass
Plant Family: Poaceae
Plant Description: Clump-forming, warm season, ornamental grass. Long, slender, metallic-blue leaves form a dense columnar clump but may flop in overly fertile soils or too much shade. Fine textured, pink-tinged seed heads appear in fall and provide excellent winter interest if left uncut. May reseed. The species is native from Utah to the east coast.
Maintenance:
Maintenance Type: Ornamental Grass - Medium
Plant Care: Ornamental Grass - Medium (showy non-turf grasses that go dormant in winter, 3-6' tall): Use hand pruners or hedger to cut and remove 2/3 of the total grass height. Trim edges. For warm season grasses (more common), this is best done in late winter to early spring. For cool season grasses apply the same maintenance practices in the late fall, once the plant is dormant.
Plant Attributes:
Mature Size: 4-5' tall x 1-2' wide
Utah Native: No
Plant Select: No
Pollinator Friendly: Yes
Localscapes: Foundation Plant, Perimeter Plant
Foliage Interest: No
Foliage Colors: Blue-green, Silver-blue
Bloom Colors: Pink
Bloom Seasons: Late Summer
Bloom Period: Aug - Sep
Growing Conditions:
Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
Light Requirement: Full Sun (6+ hrs sun), Part Sun (4-6 hrs afternoon sun)
Irrigation Requirement: 
Low (1/2" every 10-14 days)
Low (1/2" every 10-14 days)
Salt Tolerant: Yes
Deer Resistant: Unknown
Garden Location:
Found throughout the garden.
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Spring -
Summer -
Fall -
Winter
