Dallas Blues Switch Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues'
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Dallas Blues Switch Grass - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
From | To | S&H |
---|---|---|
$0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
$20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
$50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
$70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
$100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
$130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
$150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
#1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
#3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
#6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
#7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Dallas Blues Switch Grass highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Pollinator Required
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer, Fall

Growing Zones 5-9
Ok, maybe it's cliché that Texas is known for big hair, big boots, big belt buckles and big football teams, but now it will definitely be known for big grass!
Dallas Blues Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues') is a super hearty grass discovered near Dallas, Texas. It is a remnant of the long-gone tall grass prairies of the Midwest and Great Plains. It grows to an impressive 4-6 feet tall and wide every season, creating a big, billowy presence in the garden! But don't let its height fool you, this columnar ornamental grass only spreads 12-18 inches at the base to create a slim and trim profile!
The strappy vase shape and exceptional height aren't all that Dallas Blues has going for it, though. It is, as its name suggests, a stunning blue-green that really makes a statement in the garden. Once it is established it survives with little fuss and is an excellent addition to xeric gardens.
This warm-season Switch Grass variety, sometimes spelled Switchgrass, soaks up the heat throughout USDA growing zones 5 to 9. Don't forget the big purplish-tan flower plumes that spring up in autumn and persist well into winter, either. They are great cut flowers and winter garden interest, as well as food for the birds.
Planting and Application:
Dallas Blue Switchgrass looks great as a specimen plant by itself or in a big mass planting. And just because it was discovered in the prairie, don't limit it to rustic or natural gardens (even though it excels there). A big geometric bed of Ornamental Grass in a modern or formal garden stops traffic!
Create rows, gropings, and en masse drifts to let this big softy show its stuff! Use as backdrops to garden beds, as vertical accents and focal points, as garden bed anchors and foundation planting punctuation - you name it! Need flowing seasonal screening around your meditation nook or pool? A zigzagging row of Dallas Blues looks fantastic! This xeric gem even looks right at home in the Rock Garden!
- Gorgeous Tall Blue-Green Blades
- Soft Fountain & Vase-Shape
- Tall & Architectural Form
- Easy Care Native Warm-Season Grass
- Great for Hedges, Screens & Borders
- Works in Any Garden Setting - Cottage to Contemporary!
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Thriving in as much sun as you can give it, Switch Grass does best in 6 hours of direct sun a day. Plant it where it has room to grow in normal to poor soil. It loves lean clay and sandy conditions so much that it tends to flop if the soil is too rich! Provide moderate moisture to establish, then once it is established, these are quite drought-tolerant. Prune the clumps down in early spring and be patient with this warm-season grass - it takes a bit longer to wake up in the spring.
- Full Sun
- Widely Adaptable To Any Well-Drained Soil
- Moderate Moisture Needs - Low Once Established
- Prune Early Spring
- Low-Maintenance & Forgiving
Go big or go home! This simple-to-grow Ornamental Native Grass will be a really big and bold standout in your landscape, so don't wait to order yours! Order Dallas Blues Switch Grass from Nature Hills Nursery today!