BLACKWELL SWITCHGRASS

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Johnston's Native Grasses | Grasses

#1115 | PANICUM VIRGATUM

Summary

Blackwell Switchgrass is an upland, bunch-type perennial warm season native grass that is widely used especially across the Great Plains and Midwest.

Key Characteristics:

Height- 4 to 6 feet

Root System- Deep (6 – 10 feet)

Drought Tolerance- Very good once established

Cold Tolerance- Excellent (survives harsh winters)

Soil Adaptation- Performs well on poor, shallow, or eroded soils

Reproduction – Seed and Rhizomes

Primary Uses:

Forage and Grazing- Best grazed when 18-24 inches tall in a rotational grazing system

Wildlife Habitat- Excellent nesting cover for quail, pheasants, and turkey. Provides thermal cover and bedding for deer.

Conservation/Soil Health- Erosion control, Water infiltration, Building Soil Organic Matter

Plant Characteristics

Taxonomy

Zone

Regional Growing Zone: 3 - Southern Mountain, 4 - Mountain, 5 - Midwest, 6 - Northeast Lakes, 7 - Great Lakes South, 8 - Appalacia, 9 - Southeast
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Temperature Zone: Warm, Cool, Transitional

Plant Characteristics

Height: 36" - 120"
Bloom Period: Mid-Summer - Late-Summer
Bloom Color: Yellow
Leaf Color: Green
Growing Cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Plant Information

Planting Season: Spring - Fall
Plant Depth: 0.25"
Minimum Soil Temp for Germination: 60° F
Establishment: Easy

Seed Information

Seeds Per Pound: 400,000

Kingdom: PLANTAE
Subkingdom: TRACHEOBIONTA
Super Division: SPERMATOPHYTA
Division: MAGNOLIOPHYTA
Class: LILIOPSIDA
Subclass: COMMELINIDAE
Order: CYPERALES
Family: POACEAE
Genus: PANICUM
Species: PANICUM VIRGATUM

Coverage Area & Available Sizes

COVERAGE: 5 to 6 PLS lbs per acre

AVAILABLE SIZES:

Applications

Soil Stabilization & Erosion Control

Switchgrass has been long used for many conservation applications including but not limited to; buffer strips, Conservation Reserve Program, and stream bank erosion.

Pasture & Range

Switchgrass provides a suitable forage for hay and grazing if harvested prior to seedhead formation. Forage quality diminishes rapidly when the reproductive stage is initiated in mid to late summer.

Landscaping

Switchgrass is also used in landscape plantings. It is typically used as perimeter screens and accent plants. Switchgrass can be moderately invasive in some applications.