Panicum virgatum Blue Darkness - Switchgrass

The Panicum virgatum 'Blue Darkness' is a new variety of Panicum, both compact and exceptional with the color of its variegated foliage of dark purple-black and bluish-green. This perennial grass, well suited to small gardens and container gardening, also impresses with its unrestrained summer flowering, which crowns its beautiful foliage with large, delicate pastel panicles in contrast, evolving from cream-white to soft pink. It also wins all the votes due to its extreme adaptability to all kinds of soils, from moist to dry, but not too poor. There is no doubt that this is a dream plant, but a dream within reach of every garden!

Panicum virgatum, the switchgrass or perennial millet, is a plant of the poaceae family that once reigned over the fertile plains of the American Midwest, then serving as fodder for the immense herds of wild bison. In these tall prairies, it coexisted with other tall grasses that are now cultivated for garden ornamentation: the Sorghastrum nutans or Indian grass, the Andropogon gerardii or big bluestem, and the Schizachyrium scoparium.

The 'Blue Darkness' variety, recently born in Belgium, is a compact and surprisingly variegated form of this non-invasive rhizomatous plant. This variety grows quite rapidly into beautiful upright clumps of long, wide ribbon-like leaves, initially tender green, turning red and gray, purple-black on a bluish-green background as the season progresses. They are marked by a stiffer central vein that allows the foliage to maintain its flexibility, but prevents it from bending in the rain. Its mature dimensions will reach 80cm (32in) to 1m (3ft) in height and almost as much in width, depending on growing conditions. Flowering occurs from August to October. Clumps of foliage emerge from long, stiff stems covered with delicate panicles measuring 30 cm (12in) in length, consisting of countless small cream-white flowers that seem to float like a cloud. In autumn, the foliage darkens further, then becomes straw yellow in winter; the coloration is even more intense if there are large temperature fluctuations between day and night.

European millet is mainly composed of annual species. It is from America that perennial species like Panicum virgatum come. Adapted to extreme conditions, switchgrass can withstand anything: drought, cold, waterlogged and clay soils. It is versatile and adapts to many situations in the garden. Non-suckering, this remarkably colored but modestly sized grass is highly appreciated in slightly wild flowerbeds. It can be associated with tall wild asters such as Aster laevis, Aster turbinellus, or even Helianthus salicifolius, Helen's flower, and Verbena bonariensis. Its combination with tall sedums (Sedum matrona, Autumn Joy) is also very successful. It can also form large masses near bodies of water. This grass is particularly well adapted to coastal areas as it tolerates sea spray. It is also a wonderful structuring plant, to be installed on a terrace or patio, in a large container, to create a sleek decoration in a very contemporary style.

The deep root system of Panicum virgatum helps to break up soils, protecting them in winter and enriching them with organic matter. This characteristic is used on a large scale, as it allows other plants or crops to develop on poor soils where it would not have been feasible before. Switchgrasses remain interesting even in winter, when they become good shelters for birds that feed on their seeds.