Panicum virgatum Kulsenmoor - Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum 'Külsenmoor', also known as Switchgrass or Upright Panic Grass, is a compact grass with bluish-green foliage that turns bright red in autumn. The cloudy flowering in late summer follows the same colouration as the foliage. This very hardy perennial adapts to many growing conditions, preferring sunny and deep, rather chalky and fertile soils. Its growth cycle is characterized by a rather late growth in the season.

Panicum virgatum is a plant in the Poaceae family, which once dominated the fertile plains of the American Midwest, providing a valuable forage for the vast herds of wild bison. The 'Külsenmoor' variety is somewhat a more compact form of this non-spreading rhizomatous plant. This variety forms clumps of long, bluish-green ribbon-like leaves, marked by a stiffer central vein that allows the foliage to maintain its arched and flexible habit, but prevents it from drooping in the rain. Its mature dimensions reach about 80cm (32in) in height and 50cm (20in) in width. Flowering occurs from August to October. Clumps of foliage emerge from long, stiff stems covered with plumes measuring 40cm (16in) in length, made up of countless small flowers that give a feathery appearance to the inflorescence. In autumn, the foliage takes on a very spectacular bright red colour; the colouration is even more intense if there are large temperature differences between day and night.

Adapted to extreme conditions, Panicum virgatum can withstand anything: drought, cold, waterlogged soils. It is versatile and adapts to many situations in the garden. Non-suckering, this shorter grass is highly appreciated in small gardens. It adapts to any well-drained soil and is particularly well suited to coastal areas as it tolerates salt spray. Its deep root system helps to stabilize and protect the soil in winter, while enriching it with organic matter. This characteristic is used on a large scale, as it allows other plants or crops to grow on poor soils where it would not have been possible before.

Once considered a weed to be eradicated from fields in North America, Panicum virgatum is now also recognized as useful for restoring or conserving vulnerable or degraded soils. Its extensive root system, size, and late vegetative growth enable it to protect soils against erosion by water and wind, without blocking the sunlight needed by other spring species.