Panicum virgatum

Latin name: Panicum virgatum¹⁰
Common name: Northwind Switchgrass¹⁰
Flowers: Not showy¹⁰
Fruit: Caryopsis (simple dry grain-like fruit)¹⁰
Height & Width: 3-6ft tall, 24in-3ft wide¹⁹
Type: Herbaceous perennia¹⁰
Habit: Grassy/grass-like¹⁰
Wetland indicator category: FAC¹⁰
SC regions include (1) Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains & (2) Eastern Mountain Piedmont

Texture: Fine¹⁰
Growth rate: Medium¹⁰
Light: Sun, part shade¹⁰
Moisture: Medium¹⁰
Soil: Dry, moist¹⁰
Zones: 5-9¹²
Origin: Native in the continental US except California and the Pacific Northwest¹⁰
Ecosystem benefits: Food and habitat for wildlife, provides cover and nesting material¹⁶

Features: This plant is known for stabilizing soil, making it useful for erosion control¹⁶. It is also a useful source of hay for livestock and pastures¹⁶. It provides a groundcover and nesting, and food for small birds and animals¹⁶. It can also be used to produce biofuel¹⁶.

Siting: This plant can be used as an accent or grouped together¹². In a garden setting, it can be used as a border, or as a screen¹². It can also be seen in meadows or prairies¹². It can commonly be found partially or wholly submerged in water (hydrophilic)¹⁰.

Care: Plant crown at soil level¹⁸. At planting, water the roots and surrounding area slowly and deeply. Keep soil moist until plant is established, then apply enough water to thoroughly moisten the root zone when the soil is dry or during drought. Modify water recommendations to reflect site drainage and rainfall. Apply 3” of mulch over the planted area. Do not allow mulch to touch the plant stems¹⁸. Switchgrass can be planted from seed using seed drills at ¼ in thick or broadcast spreaders¹⁶.

Pests: Pests include: grasshoppers, leafhoppers, armyworms, and Switchgrass moths¹⁶.

This plant does not appear on the following invasive plant lists on (2/12/16): enter date searched and check the lists that were examined
X USDA SC Invasive Plant Species Web site at http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/main.shtml

_ SC Exotic Plant Pest Council Web site at http://www.se-eppc.org/southcarolina/

Sources:

1. Armitage, A. (2001). Armitage’s manual of annuals, biennials, and half-hardy perennials. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
2. Armitage, A. (2006). Armitage’s native plants for North American gardens. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press.
3. Armitage, A. (2008). Herbaceous perennial plants: A treatise on their identification, culture, and garden attributes.Athens, GA: University of Georgia.
4. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Flowers fact sheets. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/flowers/
5. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Groundcovers & vines fact sheets.Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/groundcovers/
6. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Trees. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/trees/
7. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Shrubs. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/shrubs/
8. Dirr, M. A. (2009). Manual of woody landscape plants. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing.
9. Gilman, E. F. (1997). Trees for urban and suburban landscapes. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers.
10. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center University of Texas at Austin. (2012). Native plant information network. Retrieved from http://www.wildflower.org/explore/
11. McMillan, P., Plant taxonomist Clemson University, personal communication.
12. Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Plant finder. Retrieved from http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Alpha.asp
13. North Carolina State University (2005). Plant fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/index.html
14. Strother, E. V., Ham, D. L., Gilland, L. (2003) Urban tree species guide: Choosing the right tree for the right place.  Columbia, SC: South Carolina Forestry Commission.
15. University of Florida, IFAS Extension. (2011). Southern trees fact sheet. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/department_envhort-trees
16. USDA . Plant profile. (n/d).Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/java/
17. USDA. Plant wetland indicator status. (n/d). Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/wetland.html
18. Vincent, E., Environmental horticulturist Clemson University, personal communication.
19. Clemson Extension. Carolina Yards Plant Database. Retrieved from https://www.clemson.edu/extension/carolinayards/plant-database/index.html
20. Habitat Avengers Featured Native Plant: Ilex verticillata https://bugwoodcloud.org/CDN/sceppc/publications/WinterberryArticleSCNLA.pdf

*Soil pH is determined using a professional soil test. Contact your Clemson University County Extension service for assistance www.clemson.edu/extension/. Click on “local offices”.

**2012 Plant Wetland Indicator categories (quantitative derived) http://plants.usda.gov/wetinfo.html