Grass,Switch Northwind
$18.00
Sale price
$18.00
Regular price
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Grass,Switch Northwind
$18.00
Sale price
$18.00
Regular price
Northwind switch grass (Panicum virgatum 'Northwind') is a sturdy, upright, award-winning ornamental grass known for its distinct columnar shape and steel blue-green foliage. Developed by Roy Diblik at Northwind Perennial Farm, it was named the Perennial Plant Association's Perennial Plant of the Year in 2014.
- Botanical Name: Panicum virgatum 'Northwind'
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4 through 9
- Size: Reaches 4 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
- Foliage: Olive-green to steely blue-green leaves that turn golden-yellow in autumn and fade to tan-beige in winter
- Flowers: Airy, fine-textured flower panicles appear in late summer, hovering like a soft cloud above the upright stems
Care & Maintenance
- Sunlight: Thrives best in full sun; partial shade can cause the upright stems to lose their rigid form and lean.
- Soil: Adapts to a wide range of soils including sand and clay, tolerating both drought and occasional wetness. Avoid overly rich or heavily fertilized soils, which make the plant prone to flopping.
- Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep root system; highly drought-tolerant once established.
- Pruning: Cut the clump back hard to the ground in late winter or early spring before new green shoots emerge.
Landscape Benefits
- Wildlife: Provides winter cover and seed snacks for songbirds, and serves as a host plant for skipper butterflies.
- Tolerances: Exceptionally deer resistant, drought tolerant, and useful for erosion control due to deep roots.
- Design Uses: Excellent as a vertical accent, vertical screen, or focal point in native gardens, perennial borders, and rain gardens.