What are some good switchgrass varieties for the home landscape?

Question:

What are some good switchgrass varieties for the home landscape?

Answer:

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a native prairie grass.  It is typically found in moist sites, such as along the banks of streams, and grows 3 to 6 feet tall. 

Several switchgrass cultivars are excellent plants for the home landscape.

• ‘Heavy Metal’ is a dense, upright plant with metallic blue foliage.  Plants grow 3 to 5 feet tall.
• ‘Dallas Blues’ grows 5 feet tall and has 1-inch-wide, blue-green foliage.  Plants turn tan to rust brown in fall.
• ‘Northwind’ is a dense, columnar plant that grows 4 to 5 feet tall.  Its olive green foliage turns to yellow or beige in fall.
• ‘Shenandoah’ is a compact, 3-foot-tall plant.  Its foliage is initially bluish green, but turns to burgundy red by mid-summer.
• ‘Prairie Fire’ grows 4 to 5 feet tall.  Its blue-green foliage turns wine red in summer. 

Switchgrasses are easy to grow in the home landscape.  They perform best in full sun and a well-drained, moist soil.  They require little care and have few insect and disease pests.