Panicum virgatum Squaw - Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum 'Squaw', also known as Switchgrass or Upright Panic, is a tall perennial grass, highly ornamental with its bluish foliage turning burgundy red in autumn and its summer flowering in light panicles of purplish pink. It also captivates with its graceful fountain-like habit and its extreme adaptability to all kinds of growing conditions. It tolerates summer drought but requires full sun and fertile soil to thrive. It is undoubtedly a reliable choice for all gardens!

Panicum virgatum is a plant belonging to the Poaceae family, which once dominated the fertile plains of the American Midwest, serving as a valuable forage for the immense herds of wild bison. The 'Squaw' variety is a more colourful form of this non-running rhizomatous plant. This variety develops rapidly into large tufts of long, ribbon-like green leaves with bluish reflections, marked by a stiffer central vein that allows the foliage to maintain its arching and flexible habit, but prevents it from bending under the rain. Its mature dimensions will reach around 1.20m (4ft) to 1.50m (5ft) in height and nearly as much in width. Flowering occurs from August to October. Clumps of foliage emerge from long, stiff stems covered with panicles measuring 40cm (16in) in length, consisting of countless small flowers tinted with dark pink, giving a feathery appearance to the inflorescence. In autumn, the foliage takes on shades of reddish-burgundy to brown, which is very spectacular; the colouration is even more intense if there are large temperature variations between day and night. This is the variety with the darkest foliage colour. We cultivate this superb variety in our grass garden where it is highly admired.

European millet is mainly composed of annual species. It is from America that perennial species such as Panicum virgatum come. Adapted to extreme conditions, Panicum can withstand anything: drought, cold, waterlogged soils. It is versatile and adapts to many situations in the garden. Non-suckering, this medium-sized grass is highly appreciated at the back of slightly wild borders. It can be associated with tall wild asters, such as Aster laevis, Aster turbinellus, or even Helianthus salicifolius and Verbena hastata. 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 break up compacted soils, protects them in winter, and enriches them with organic matter. This characteristic is used on a large scale, as it allows other plants or crops to grow in inhospitable soils where it would not have been possible before. We cultivate this superb 'Squaw' variety in our grass garden where it always attracts attention.