Panicum 'Shenandoah' is a compact switchgrass cultivar known for its red tinted foliage that intensifies as the season progresses. The upright narrow clumps provide vertical texture and are topped by delicate purplish flower panicles in late summer.
Height & Spread: 36 - 48 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Tolerates a range from dry to moist well drained soils
Watering Needs: Low to moderate
Deer Resistance: Resistant to deer browsing
Native Status
This ornamental selection is derived from the North American native species Panicum virgatum and retains its ecological and structural benefits.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Songbirds such as goldfinches, juncos, and sparrows eat the seeds and use the dense foliage for cover and winter roosting.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 18 - 24 in apart to achieve a full yet controlled clumping effect.
Landscape Placement
- Perfect for rain gardens, pollinator beds, or as a foliage contrast in perennial borders. Works well as a seasonal backdrop in native plantings.
Companion Plants
- Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' (Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod) - Bright yellow sprays pair well with Shenandoah’s reddish tones in fall.
- Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop) - Adds upright spikes of purple flowers for late season pollinator interest.
- Amsonia hubrichtii (Arkansas Blue Star) - Soft threadleaf texture and golden fall color echo the switchgrass form.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' - Deep violet spikes provide color contrast and support pollinators alongside switchgrass.
- Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb' - Provides lacy foliage and golden blooms for mid summer contrast.