SwitchgrassPanicum virgatum
Coarse, native, perennial grass growing to 6 1/2'. Stout and erect. It is a fast-growing clump. Switchgrass has been used in stream bank, buffer, transitional and slope stabilization, especially where sandy. It is an excellent soil stabilizer. It is an aggressive species that may be appropriate for competing with invasive or non-native species.
USDA symbol: PAVI2
General Information
| Plant Type | Grass |
|---|---|
| Height | 4 to 6 feet |
| Light Exposure | Sun, Part Sun |
| Soil Moisture | Dry, Medium |
| Bloom Color | Green, Brown |
Tolerances
| Flooding / Inundation Tolerance | Moderate |
|---|---|
| General Resilience | 10 |
| Salt Tolerance | Medium |
| Stress Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Fire Tolerant, General Disturbance |
Pollinator Value: High
| Bloom Months | July to October |
|---|---|
| Larval Host of | Butterflies, Moths |
| Specific Pollinators Hosted | Atrytone arogos iowa, Dargida rubripennis |
| Pollinator Benefit | Stem Nesting |
Project Planning
| Project Type | Erosion Control, Sandy or Engineered Soils, Shoreline Buffer |
|---|---|
| Coefficient of Conservatism | 4 |
| Herbivore Sensitivity | High |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Rate of Spread | Slow |
| Soil Stabilization | Deep |
| Vegetative Reproduction | Clonal |
Range
| County | Anoka, Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Itasca, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Martin, McLeod, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Roseau, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine |
|---|---|
| Ecoregion | Driftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains |
| Approximate Eco Province | Eastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands |