Panicum virgatum
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Switchgrass
Poaceae (Gramineae)
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Grass | |
| Size: | 3-4 (6) ft tall by 2-3 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Green | |
| Fruit Color: | Brown | |
| Phenology: | Winter dormant | |
| Noted for: | - |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Clump forming, suitable for planting toward the back of a moist wildflower garden. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considerations: | An aggressive grower. Plant where that characteristic is appropriate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Division of root mass. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, Seed, Specialty providers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat moist, no flooding) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat moist, no flooding | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
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| Insects: | Larval host for tawny edged skipper. | |
| Native Habitats: | Riverine forests, flatwoods, beaches, fresh and brackish marshes, disturbed sites. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 8A 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| Ethnobotany: | Being cultivated as a biofuel. Seed. | |
| General Comments: | In the opinion of this author, this species has a weedy look. Occurs throughout Florida but is more frequent in flatwoods pond settings and small floodplains than in areas of sandy ridges. |