Hot Rod Switch Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Hot Rod'
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Hot Rod Switch Grass - Quart 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
Hot Rod 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 PeriodSummer, Fall
Growing Zones 4-9
With Hot Rod Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum 'Hot Rod') you won't have to wait long to enjoy vibrant color in your landscape! Delightful, blue-tinted foliage quickly bursts into bright shades of eye-catching red with this remarkably colorful Switch Grass variety.
Your Hot Rod Switch Grass is a perennial grass that has an upright habit, with a gentle cascading effect (to the outside foliage), lending a touch of additional elegance to its form. Forming large fountains 30-36 inches wide, Hot Rod will have a fast-growing impact on the sun garden!
By the time autumn arrives, your picturesque grass adopts shades of deep purple, topped with decorative seeds of red-purple intensity. The long, slender blades of Hot Rod reach up tall and straight 3-4 feet high, with an additional 6 inches added once the whimsical, airy seeds make an appearance! Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 4 through 9, there is little that bothered this fantastic warm-season Ornamental Grass!
Planting and Application:
Hot Rod Switch Grass stays true to its name as the "hot rod" of the grasses - ablaze in color from summer through fall! Even when in decline Hot Rod adds decorative interest to the winter landscape. Hot Rod Switch Grass is a must-have for those spots in your yard where you'd like some year-round interest like Perennial gardens, Rock gardens, and along xeric and sunbaked walkways and sidewalks.
Hot Rod is spectacular when planted en masse or used as a back-of-the-border installation! Groupings, rows, and checkerboard plantings only seem to magnify the effect this Ornamental Grass has on your landscape! Create seasonal screening and property definition, large punctuation throughout garden beds, anchoring landscaping installations, and providing much-needed winter interest. Birds love the seeds and you will love adding a few to fresh and dried bouquets.
- Upright Cascading Fountains
- Emerges Blue Green & Quickly Maturing Red All Summer
- Reddish-Purple Seed Plumes
- Purple Fall Color & Great Winter Interest
- Fast-Growing Warm-Season Grass
- Great Screening, Back-of-the-Border, Groupings & En Masse Impact
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Hot Rod Switch Grass does best in full sun and almost any kind of well-drained soil. Provide new grasses with regular water their first season in the ground, but once established, they are drought tolerant and generally carefree. Even deer tend to leave it alone! Prune in early spring and have some patience with your warm-season grass as it waits until later in the spring to green up. Divide every few years to maintain vigor and clean out the crown.
- Thrives in Full Sun
- Adaptable to a Variety of Soils
- Moderate Moisture Needs - Low Once Established
- Drought, Deer & Salt Tolerant
- Prune Warm-Season Grasses in Early Spring
Enjoy dazzling color earlier than other Ornamental Grasses with the Hot Rod Switch Grass from NatureHills.com today! Switch Grass is a carefree presence that will ramp up each season with its fascinating color changes!
