Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Panicum virgatum, commonly known as switchgrass and panic grass, is a perennial warm season bunchgrass native to North America, where it occurs naturally from 55°N latitude in Canada southwards into the United States and Mexico. Switchgrass is one of the dominant species of the central North American tallgrass prairie and can be found in remnant prairies, in native grass pastures, and naturalized along roadsides. It is used primarily for soil conservation, forage production, game cover, as an ornamental grass, in phytoremediation projects, fiber, electricity, heat production, for biosequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and more recently as a biomass crop for the production of ethanol and butanol.
Quick Facts
| Scientific name | Panicum virgatum |
| Family | Poaceae |
| Height | 3-6 ft |
| Bloom time | Jul-Sep |
| Sun | Full sun |
| Moisture | Mesic to wet |
| Soil | Any |
| Wildlife value | Airy seed clouds; excellent winter cover and seed for birds |
Mentioned In
- Prairie Plants Grasslands
- Wetland Shoreline Plants
- Plant Identification Skills
- Ecological Restoration
Image Credits
- Chhe (talk) (Public domain)
- Warren Gretz, DOE/NREL (Public domain)