Panicum virgatum 'Cloud Nine' is a tall airy switchgrass cultivar known for its powder blue foliage and golden flowering panicles that sway above the foliage in late summer. It brings movement and vertical structure to native meadows and open landscapes while remaining drought tolerant and low maintenance.
Height & Spread: 60 - 84 in x 30 - 48 in
Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Average to moist, well drained soil
Watering Needs: Low once established; tolerates periodic wetness
Deer Resistance: Deer resistant
Native Status
This cultivar is derived from the native switchgrass Panicum virgatum and maintains its role in supporting native biodiversity.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Produces seed heads that feed songbirds such as finches, juncos, and red winged blackbirds.
Moths
- Host plant for caterpillars of native species such as the Common Wood Nymph and various skipper butterflies.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 36 - 48 in apart to allow for full height and wind movement without crowding.
Landscape Placement
- Excellent for large scale meadows, windbreaks, rain gardens, and vertical accents in wildlife friendly plantings.
Companion Plants
- Silphium perfoliatum (Cup Plant) - Stands tall beside Panicum, offering bold foliage and yellow blooms.
- Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) - Thrives in similar moisture conditions and supports Monarch butterflies.
- Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's Root) - Adds vertical spikes of white blooms and pollinator value.
- Eutrochium maculatum (Joe Pye Weed) - Blends seamlessly in native meadow compositions with bold height.
- Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia) - Offers deep blue flowers and likes similar soil moisture levels.