Heavy Metal Switch Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Heavy Metal 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.
Heavy Metal Switch Grass
Plant Highlights
Heavy Metal 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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Fall Color
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Pollinator Required
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodFall
Growing Zones 4-9
Hardy Unique Color & Winter Interest Heavy Metal Switch Grass!
- Amazing Metallic Blue-Green Blades
- Colorful Erect Form
- Winter Interest
- Salt, Alkaline, Sandy & Clay Soil Tolerant
- Wonderful Native Grass
- Verticle Garden Element
- Pinkish Airy Blooms
- Yellow Fall Color
- Deer Resistant
- Draws Wildlife
- Color, Texture, Motion & Sound!
- Easy-care, Cold Hardy
The Heavy Metal Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'), also known as Blue Switch Grass, has a striking metallic blue leaf color. It has a very upright, erect growth habit and will not topple over in heavy rain.
Easy-care and very low maintenance, this unique grass sways and rustles in the breeze to offer so many sensory additions to the garden!
The clouds of pink blooms are made up of many tiny, pinkish-green flowers, lifted high on dainty stems. The vertical growing habit and amazing blue-green color on the blades shine in the sun!
In autumn, the entire plant takes on a bright-yellow autumn hue, and Heavy Metal seed heads persist into winter for wonderful drama in the landscape all year long!
How to Use Heavy Metal Switch Grass In The Landscape
The airy weeping plumes of pinkish, spike-like blooms rise high above the metallic blue foliage for a gossamer appearance in the late summer to the autumn garden. It is quite handsome when used in groups or as an accent plant in the landscape.
For a bold statement, a swath of Heavy Metal planted in drifts to define your property line or en masse to create a breezy atmosphere that helps prevent erosion. An excellent plant for meadows and naturalizing prairie-style gardens.
Ornamental grasses are always amazing partner plants in the perennial and butterfly gardens, working well with Daisy, Sunflowers, Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susan and Salvias. Mixing and mingling well with all colors!
Perfectly sized for smaller lots and urban gardening, these are tolerant enough to not be bothered by conditions along roadsides or in less-than-optimal locations. Use as anchors around the landscape and foundation plantings for year-round appeal.
Planting in groups of 3 always looks wonderful when using ornamental grasses, with the vertical lines Heavy Metal has to provide sculptural accents and create little vignettes throughout garden beds and borders.
Use as a strong line behind your garden beds as a waving backdrop or in containers as a vertical privacy fence. They add an amazing designer touch to your landscape. Coastal gardens and formal gardens both benefit from this tough grass!
#ProPlantTips For Care
Heavy Metal Switch Grass loves the full sun as well as does well in part-shade however, in less than 6 hours of sun a day, may lose its vertical growth habit. Taking on a more open and weeping form.
This hardy native ornamental grass handles climates in USDA Zones 4 through 9. Heavy Metal is a warm-season perennial grass, so don't be alarmed when you don't see it first thing in early spring. These are a bit slow to emerge from winter, ensuring no early spring frosts will nip off the new growth.
Deer avoid this grass which makes it safe to plant along wooded edges and in large drifts in out-of-the-way areas, plus it provides excellent cover and food for wildlife. A water-wise plant it's great for Xeriscaping!
Heavy Metal is a native grass of North America. So it is tough and can tolerate many soils and growing conditions. Plant Panicum in average to moist soil that is well-draining. Plus, this grass can thrive in or clay or even sandy soil.
Switch Grass even handles occasional flooding, salt spray and alkaline soil!
Heavy Metal bestows amazing late fall and winter interest in the garden, maintaining that upright growth and strong fall color all winter, even holding on to those beautiful blooms throughout the cold and snow. In spring, before this gets growing, you can prune back nearly to the ground for a clean spring look.
For knock-out color, vertical accents, airy drifts of blooms and hardiness you can't beat, you'll be glad you picked up a few Heavy Metal Switch Grass for your landscape today! Call Nature Hills as soon as these amazing plants are in stock!
