Striking displays are easy to create with Blood Brother’s Red Switch Grass, Panicum. In summer, its blue-green leaves are overtaken with dramatic wine-purple coloration. It matures to a strictly upright 3′ mound of foliage. Red flowers turn into tan seedheads in late summer. It makes a spectacular specimen plant and is even more eye-catching when planted en masse in the landscape. A selection of the US native perennial, Red Switch is easy to grow, not fussy about soil, and drought tolerant once established. Compared to others, its colors are richer and darker.

Use Blood Brothers Red Switch Grass as a specimen, hedge for screening, and as a background in perennial gardens, next to pools, streams, or ponds. It brings considerable interest to large containers either mixed with other sun-loving plants or on its own. Switch grass gets its name from its distinctive sound when blowing in the wind. A very sturdy grass, it will remain standing through winter unless toppled by heavy snow. Its study habit makes it a cozy home for birds during the coldest days of winter.

Red Switch Grass has a large root system, handling whatever Missouri weather throws at it. It will grow in areas that flood but also highly drought tolerant once established. Red Switch Grass solves many difficult garden problems and is beautiful to boot. Switch Grass prefers lean soils-no fertilizer needed!

Plant in full sun to part shade. Cut back in late winter.