Bitter Switchgrass Panicum amarum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PAN-ih-kum a-MAHR-um
- Description
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Bitter switchgrass is a warm-season ornamental perennial beach grass in the Poaceae family. It is native to sandy dunes and shores in coastal areas from Connecticut to Florida to Texas. Var. amarulum can be found in the same areas, as well as sandflats and sandhills
Bitter switchgrass prefers well-drained, dry to medium moisture soils, performing well even in infertile sandy loams. It is salt-tolerant, low-maintenance and spreads by rhizomes. Cut it back to the ground in late winter to early spring to maintain an attractive shape. Propagation is by seed or division.
The tall, narrow cluster has pinkish flowers that wave over the leaves. The blue-green leaves are erect to arching and up to 20 inches long.
Bitter switchgrass is used as a dune stabilizer along the southern NC coast. It can be used in rain gardens and the border of native gardens or in naturalized areas. It will help prevent erosion in difficult areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Too much organic material added to the soil can cause it to flop over. It tolerates light shade, but begins to lose form in too much shade, growing more openly and possibly falling over.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Dewey Blue'
- 'Dewey Blue'
- 'Dewey Blue'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Dewey Blue'
- 'Dewey Blue'
- 'Dewey Blue'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Panicum
- Species:
- amarum
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Native to North America, Mexico
- Distribution:
- AL , CT , DE , FL , GA , LA , MA , MD , MS , NC , NJ , NM , NY , PA , RI , SC , TX , VA , WV
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant for various Skipper butterflies and the Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) which have one brood from late May to October. Adult Common Wood-Nymph butterflies feed on rotting fruit and flower nectar.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Dense
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are available from August to December. Beige seedheads persist into winter
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers bloom July-November. The narrow panicle is up to 2.5 feet long and 6 inches wide with small pinkish flowers
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The bluish- green leaves grow erect to arching over and 7 yo 20 inches long and 1/4 to 1/2 inches wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Pollution
- Salt
