Blue Fountain Switchgrass Ornamental Grasses (Panicum Virgatum Blue Fountain)

Blue Fountain Switchgrass Ornamental Grasses Description

Blue Fountain Switchgrass is a graceful, ornamental grass that adds elegance and vertical structure to any garden. With its slender, upright form, it reaches a height of 1.2 to 1.5 metres (4 to 5 feet), making it an ideal choice for adding height to borders, meadows, or naturalistic plantings. Its striking bluish green foliage forms a fountain like shape, creating a soft, flowing effect in the garden. In late summer, this variety produces airy, feathery flower heads that transition from soft pink or red to silvery or golden as they mature, providing an attractive contrast to the foliage. The flowers persist through autumn and into winter, adding year round interest.

Pruning Advice

When to Prune: Blue Fountain Switchgrass requires very little pruning. However, to maintain its tidy appearance and encourage fresh growth, cut the plant back in early spring, just before the new shoots begin to appear.

How to Prune:

In late winter or early spring (before new growth emerges), cut back the old, dead foliage to around 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches) above the ground. This will remove the spent flower heads and any dead material, allowing room for new growth to emerge.

If you prefer, you can leave the foliage standing over the winter for visual interest and to provide shelter for birds. In this case, you can cut it back when the new growth starts to emerge in spring.

Additional Care:

Blue Fountain Switchgrass generally does not need dividing frequently, but if the clump becomes too large or starts to decline in vigour after several years, it can be divided in early spring to rejuvenate the plant and maintain its shape.

Mulching: Applying a light mulch around the base in spring can help retain moisture and protect the roots from extreme temperatures, particularly in colder climates.

Further Information

Seasonal Interest: The foliage starts as a rich blue green in spring and summer, turning golden or reddish in autumn. The feathery flower heads create an added layer of interest, and their silvered hues persist into the winter, providing texture and colour even in the colder months.

Vertical Structure: Its tall, fountain like habit makes it an excellent plant for creating height and movement in garden beds, borders, or meadows. Its slender, arching form works particularly well as an accent plant or as part of a mass planting for a naturalistic look.

Low Maintenance: Once established, Blue Fountain Switchgrass is drought tolerant and low maintenance, requiring little more than an annual cut back in spring. It is hardy and resilient, thriving in a wide range of soil types and conditions, making it a great addition to any garden.

Wildlife Friendly: The feathery flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and the seed heads provide food for birds in winter. Its ability to support wildlife makes it a valuable plant in eco friendly and wildlife gardens.

Erosion Control: Like other varieties of switchgrass, it has a deep, fibrous root system that helps prevent soil erosion, making it an excellent choice for planting on slopes or in areas prone to erosion.

Delivery & Returns

Free delivery is available on most orders (except Premium Products) providing they meet the minimum spend criteria for the size of box or pallet. Pallet deliveries and large box deliveries for tall plants are indicated by icons on the product table listings. Delivery costs and minimum order details for each packaging type are as follows:

* Standard Sized Boxes (Bare root up to 1.2m tall & pots up to 7.5L) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £9.98 charge.

* Tall Sized Boxes (Bare roots 1.2m & over) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £24.99 charge.

* Pallets (Root balls, large pots 10L+, trees etc | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £350 | or £82 charge.

* Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £1500 | or £450 charge.