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Panicum virgatum 'Haense Herms'
Switchgrass
A clump-forming grass that grows 4-5' tall with flower heads rising another 1' above the foliage, 'Haense Herms' offers steely blue foliage with red-tinged tips that become more prolific as the season progresses. Flower heads turn beige in fall with the seed plumes persisting well into winter. This bunch grass provides excellent cover and food for ducks, upland game birds, and songbirds.
Benefits
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Provides nest sites, protective cover and food for birds |
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Showy red foliage and compact form |
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Great winter interest |
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Use flowers in fresh or dried arrangements |
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Tolerates a wide range of growing conditions, including poor or wet soils |
Homeowner Growing and Maintenance Tips
Grows easily in full sun. Plant in average to dry soil. Leave foliage in place for winter interest and to provide homes for over-wintering critters. Cut back to the ground in late winter before new growth begins.. Plants will self-sow but are not invasive.
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Height |
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USDA Hardiness Zone 2-9
Native Range
Woodlands edge, breaks, fields, marshes, prairies and roadsides; Nova Scotia to Manitoba south to New Mexico and Florida.
Native Trivia
Clumping grasses like this are also known as bunch grasses. Use these grasses en masse mixed with meadow shrubs to provide ideal wildlife habitat. This kind of layout provides protective cover, quality nesting areas and open travel lanes.
"In winter, when food and cover are scarce, switchgrass is a provider of both for birds like me."
Characteristics & Attributes
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Plan Sub Group
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Exposure
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Soil Moisture Preference
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Attracts Wildlife
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Bloom Time
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Habitat Collection
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Foliage Color
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Native to
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