Thundercloud Switch Grass is a tall fast-growing ornamental grass native to the prairies of North America. The upright blue-green foliage resists flopping even in strong wind or rain and turns yellow-beige in fall. In mid-summer stems holding airy clusters of tiny pink flowers raise above the foliage like a cloud which turn brown in fall and persist through winter. Prefers part sun and moist well-drained soils.
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Type:
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Orn. Grass
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Origins:
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Central and East N. America; GA Native
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Height:
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6' - 8'
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Spread:
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4' - 5'
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Spacing:
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4.5’
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USDA Hardiness Zone:
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5 - 9
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Culture:
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Full Sun, Part Sun
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Bloom Color:
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Pink
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Season of Interest:
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Summer, Fall, Year-Round
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MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low maintenance plant. Too much shade will lose its upright form. Beetles and mites are occasional problems. Root and crown rot may occur in poorly drained soils. Some susceptibility to rust.
LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, Woodland Garden, Wildlife Gardens, Bog Gardens, Rock Gardens, and Containers.
COMPANION PLANTS: Tickseed, Salvia, Blanket Fower
IMAGES: USDA NRCS Texas, Evaluation of NPAT Switchgrass at the East Texas PMC. (24484392183), CC BY 2.0, (2) Sten Porse, Panicum-virgatum-autumn, CC BY-SA 3.0
*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.
