Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum

Switchgrass is a tall, native prairie grass that benefits birds and pollinators.

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A field of switchgrass in bloom with small pink flowers.
Small pink flower heads bloom in August and mature into seed pods in the winter. (Photo courtesy of Riley Walsh/iNaturalist CC BY-NC)

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Appearance

Switchgrass grows in tall clumps that are green in summer, yellow in fall and tan in winter. The plant spreads out wide and has appealing seed heads that change color from green to gold. In midsummer, pink and purple flower heads bloom from the seed heads. 

Reproduction and life cycle

Switchgrass initiates growth in April, which is earlier than most warm-season grasses. The plant does much of its growing in the summer and will continue to grow until late September or October. The plant forms flower heads in August that mature into seed pods in the winter. 

Switchgrass grows very deep roots of about 5-6 feet deep. They use laterally growing roots called rhizomes to spread. The plant’s seeds are dispersed by wind. This is a fast-growing plant that will easily spread across a yard or field under the right conditions.

Did you know?

  • Switchgrass was once dominant across the prairies of the eastern United States. 
  • Switchgrass provides food and shelter to birds and is a host plant for dozens of butterflies, including the hobomok skipper, Delaware skipper, Leonard’s skipper and Northern broken-dash. 
  • While switchgrass is native and beneficial to wildlife, it can spread quickly. You should keep an eye on the plant to keep it from crowding out other species. 
  • Common southeastern cultivars of switchgrass include northwind, Shenandoah and Heavy Metal. Common northeastern cultivars include Timber, Cave in Rock and Kanlow.

Sources and additional information

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