Shenandoah Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah')
PAN-ih-kum ver-GAY-tum 'Shenandoah'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-Forming in the Poaceae Family
 
Buy Shenandoah Switch Grass
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $12.20 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
#1 gallon Field

Show Stoppers (9/23)

 $14.92 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
#2 gallon Field $25.03 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
#3 gallon Field

Bloom / Color (9/25)

 $26.84 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
#3 gallon Field $34.44 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
18 Flat Field $69.75 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
50ct Plug Deep Flat Field $93.78 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
Tray of 10 4" pots Field $88.35 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4

Leaves are green in early summer, taking on dark red tones by July and turning completely wine-colored by fall. Red flowers among the red tips of the foliage.
A popular German-origin switchgrass selection discovered by plantsman Hans Simon as a seedling of 'Haense Herms', then studied and popularized in European gardens before being reintroduced to North American horticulture. Blue-green summer foliage develops red tips as the season progresses, shifting to a rich burgundy-red in fall, with reddish-pink flower plumes appearing in midsummer that mature to a silvery tone and persist into winter.

Pros

  • Strong burgundy-red fall color
  • Deer and rabbit resistant
  • Tolerant of black-walnut allelopathy
  • Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established

Cons

  • Can self-seed in favorable conditions
  • Clump center can thin and need periodic division
  • Reported toxic to livestock if ingested in quantity
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 4 - 5 feet tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Widely Adaptable
Zones 4a - 9b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Grasses, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Modern Garden, Nativar, Normal Soil, Perennial, Pond, Popular For Fall, Prairie Garden, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Salt, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Woodland Garden Fall Blooming Perennials, Full Sun Perennials, Large Perennials, Ornamental Grass
Bloom Period July
Flower Color Reddish-Pink
Foliage Color Green
 

Most Popular Plants
 

Plant Club Content
 

More Info from Experts

Photos of This with...

Yarrow, Goat's Beard, The Rocket Leopard Plant, Green Carpet Japanese Pachysandra, Blue Hill Wood Sage, Autumn Moor Grass, Periwinkle
 
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

Click a label to toggle visibility for that size

Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30

© North Shore Plant Club 2026. Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions.

Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


Benefits of Membership

Want a better way to get great plants and make your yard look awesome? Create your account below and get:

  • The best plants… from the same sources the pros use, but at near wholesale prices
  • More plants in more sizes than anywhere else… whether you’re looking for classics or rarities; annuals, perennials or shrubs; one plant or a whole yardful!
  • "No Contact" delivery or easy pick-up at a site near you without fighting the retail crowds. You choose!

Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.

Already a member?
Login
About Ordering From The Plant Club

To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

The next order is coming up soon. Here's a link to our ordering calendar. Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!


No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!