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Plainview Farm :: Ornamental Grasses :: Panicum :: Panicum
Panicum | PAN-ee-kum | Switch Grass
Panicum, the native American switch grass, covers a lot of geography. It can be found from Quebec to Mexico in north America and was once a major component of the enormous American prairie. It is a fairly large genus of nearly 500 soecies that can also be found in Europe. Europeans gardeners took full advantage of the ornamental uses for this utilitarian plant. Americans were slower to see the possibilities. This slight has been corrected in the last 20 years, as brilliant designers have used this grass frequently and called it an integral part of the “Great American Landscape”. It is a clump forming, warm season plant that prefers full sun and a fertile, well-drained soil. Warm season grasses emerge relatively late in spring, as they wait for the soil to warm. They flower in late summer or fall.That being said, panicum is the most tolerant of adverse conditions - it will even tolerate some salt. It is often seen in roadside plantings in New England, where winter use of road salt poses a challenge for roadside plants. The sturdy upright structure of its winter foliage is a welcome addition to the winter landscape. Cutting it back in late spring is advised. Through the season, you will see the many different grasses displayed in the various gardens here at the Farm. It is fascinating to watch their development through the season. The big miscanthus, panicum and pennisetum are left to frost beautifully through the winter. They were the only good thing that the Ice Storm brought!
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