Shenandoah Switch Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Shenandoah Switch Grass - #3 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
Shenandoah 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 RateFast
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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
Consistently Showy Shenandoah Switch Grass
- Blue-Green Foliage Deepens to Burgundy
- Pink-Tipped Seed Heads from Midsummer
- Gilded in Fall With Electric Orange Hues
- Slender Vase-Shape
- Fine-Texture
- Year-Round Interest
- Grows Fast
- Versatile
- Tolerates Both Periodic Drought and Flooding
- Deer Resistant
- Full Sun or Partial Shade
- Hardy
- Easy Care
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!
