General description: perennial, sod-forming, clump-forming warm-season grass Height: 3-5ft Bloom color: green - brown Bloom time: August - November Ecological value: provides nesting habitat and winter shelter to quails, pheasants, and rabbits; seeds provide forage for turkeys, pheasants, quail, doves, and songbirds; attracts butterflies
Native habitat: dry or moist prairies, stream banks, open woods, Sunlight: full sun to partial shade Soil moisture level: medium; dry to moist soils Adapted to the following soil types: coarse, medium, and fine textured soils; sand, loam, lime, clay Anaerobic tolerance: medium CaCO3 tolerance: low Drought tolerance: medium Drought tolerant: yes Soil pH range of tolerance: 4.5 - 8.0
Where/how to plant: performs well on shallow and water-deprived soil -We recommend that you plant this species in its native habitat, or conditions that mimic its native habitat Management: this plant may act as a weed or invasive if not properly managed; to control weeds, mow to four inches in May or six inches in June or July
Notes: of all the common warm-season grasses, switchgrass matures the earliest
References “Panicum Virgatum.” Plant Database - Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The University of Texas at Austin, www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PAVI2.