Shenandoah Switch Grass

Welcome each spring with fresh new blue-green foliage emerging from the old crown of this native grass. The lush, erect blades of Shenandoah Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah') grow quickly and deepen into a beautiful, burgundy hue.

This is a hardy accent grass that brings color, movement and an airy texture to the landscape. No wonder they've earned their place on the hottest plant lists!

After all, Switch Grasses have been a beautiful addition to the vast native North American tallgrass prairie ecosystem since time immemorial. Bring the restful charm of Shenandoah Switch Grass to your space, no matter how small.

They can easily be kept in tall outdoor containers as a very effective "Thriller" for many years. You'll be pleased to see how sophisticated this improved modern cultivar looks on an urban balcony or Roof Garden!

Watch the ornamental development over the growing season. People across the country love the shimmering reddish-pink flowers that develop at the top of the long stalks in early summer.

The long-lasting display looks great all season...especially as the breeze picks up and the wind ripples through the narrow blades. Sit back and savor each of the varied color tones; watching as flashing sunlight picks out each tiny seed panicle.

This easy-care plant requires very little care. Shenandoah makes an exceptional choice for busy professionals and young families who demand low-maintenance easy gardens.

Shenandoah Switch Grass grows fairly tall, but features a narrow, upright nature. It is a boon for beginning gardeners with a tough, durable selection that thrives in most soil types.

Place your order for Shenandoah Switch Grass this season. You'll love the cloud of airy seed heads held high above the erect, purple-toned foliage.

How to Use Shenandoah Switch Grass in the Landscape

This exceptional grass can be used to make a bold statement. Plant long rows for a garden feature that is at once modern and formal.

Space them 30 inches apart to line the front of your shrub border with a handsome hedge. Or spread them out to create a geometric checkerboard, so the kids can make happy memories playing hide and seek behind each clump.

Commercial property owners can take this same concept and use it on a grand scale. Frankly, nothing could be easier or more attention-grabbing... simply mow between the "squares" of Shenandoah.

Plant these dynamic grasses as an attractive fill plant in your mixed borders and at the edge of water gardens. Repeat them through your planting bed to keep the eye moving.

If you have a special garden sculpture or special boulder, highlight it with a few Shenandoah Switch Grasses at the base. Every time the wind blows, your guests will turn towards this focal point.

Because this special grass can tolerate wet soils, you can grow a mass planting on the berm in a planned Rain Garden. Put plants to work filtering potentially polluted water runoff from roofs and streets before it flows down the storm drain.

Shenandoah Switch Grass also becomes a terrific contrast against selections like Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass and Purple Fountain Grass. Mix and match from our vast collection of Ornamental Grasses to create a naturalized area of your yard.

Add in several of our native plants, such as prairie perennials to recreate a slice of that tallgrass prairie on your lot. What could be a better legacy to leave for pollinators and songbirds?

#ProPlantTips for Care

Full sun is best for this grass, although it does tolerate part shade better than most. It needs at least four hours of sunlight a day for the best foliage color and fall color.

It is a huge relief to know that this durable landscaping choice can tolerate clay, sand, and even periodic flooding and drought. However, our plant experts do recommend that you provide adequate water for best results.

Containers must be deep enough for their robust root system. Keep up the consistent water, as container-grown plants won't survive dry soils.

Shenandoah Switch Grass is a warm-season grass, and may be slow to wake up from winter dormancy. Be patient with it!

Once you start to see the very first signs of life in early spring, cut back all the stems down to the crown. It won't take long for your Shenandoah to start shining again!

This versatile cultivated Ornamental Grass thrives in a variety of conditions and makes the most of many different garden applications. Order Shenandoah Switch Grass from Nature Hills today!