Description

** Only one left, but check out our straight species Panicum! ** Panicum is a warm season bunch grass that may spread slightly via rhizomes, and may self-seed in optimum growing conditions. Prefers moist sunny sites. May flop over in too much shade or with overly rich soils. Tolerates flooding and therefore would be a good choice for rain gardens. Panicum virgatum was one of the dominant grasses of the tallgrass prairie which once covered large parts of the Midwest. An extensive root system makes this a good grass for erosion control. Native grasses provide cover and food for songbirds, nesting material/structure for native bees, and are larval host plants. I would encourage you to leave bunch grasses standing over winter to provide wildlife habitat, and cut back (if desired) in early spring. ‘Prairie Rose’ has foliage that is blue-green in spring, but by early summer begins to turn a stunning shade of deep red – a color change that is unusually early for panicum. When the rosy panicles appear, the leaves curl slightly, which gives the impression of red ribbons woven throughout the flowers. Height: 4-5 ft. Spread: 18-24” Family: Poaceae Sun: full sun to part shade Bloom time: July to February Bloom: Pink Water: medium to wet Deer resistant photo credit: Walters Gardens