Prairie Sky Switch Grass

Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky'

Plant Details:

Plant Type: Ornamental Grass
Plant Family: Poaceae
Plant Description: Dense growing ornamental grass. Long slender leaf blades form a sky-blue column. Wispy tan seed heads bloom in the late-summer to fall and last through winter. Best left throughout the winter and cut back to 4-6 inches in the spring. Tolerant of a wide range of soils. 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 2' wide
Utah Native: No
Plant Select: No
Pollinator Friendly: Yes
Localscapes: Foundation Plant, Perimeter Plant
Foliage Interest: No
Foliage Colors: Blue-green
Bloom Colors: Tan
Bloom Seasons: Late Summer
Bloom Period: Aug - Sep

Growing Conditions:

Hardiness Zone: 4 to 9
Light Requirement: Full Sun (6+ hrs sun)
Irrigation Requirement:     Low (1/2" every 10-14 days)
Salt Tolerant: Unknown
Deer Resistant: Unknown

Garden Location:

  • Design Path
    • Winter Interest
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter