Prairie Sky Switchgrass Ornamental Grasses (Panicum Virgatum Prairie Sky)

Prairie Sky Switchgrass Ornamental Grasses Description

Prairie Sky Switchgrass is a compact, upright ornamental grass, distinguished by its striking blue green foliage and elegant, vertical form. Reaching a height of approximately 1.2 metres (4 feet), it makes an excellent choice for smaller gardens, borders, and mixed plantings where space is limited but structure and colour are needed. Its fine textured flower panicles appear in late summer, transitioning from green to golden as the season progresses, providing visual interest and movement. Its foliage also changes to a warm golden hue in autumn, adding seasonal colour and texture, while maintaining its architectural form through winter.

This hardy and low maintenance grass thrives in full sun and well drained soil, making it suitable for a wide range of garden styles, from naturalistic and wildlife gardens to more formal borders. Prairie Sky Switchgrass is perfect for adding seasonal interest, texture, and colour, while also attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Pruning Advice

When to Prune: Prune back the foliage in late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins. This allows the grass to regrow fresh, healthy shoots in spring.

How to Prune: Cut back the previous growth to about 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 inches) above the ground using sharp secateurs or garden shears. This removes any dead or damaged growth and encourages new shoots to emerge.

Additional Care: Regular pruning in early spring helps to maintain its tidy appearance. You can also divide the clumps every 3 to 4 years if the plant becomes overcrowded or starts to lose vigour, usually done in early spring or late autumn.

Further Information

Compact Form: Its shorter height and upright growth habit make it ideal for smaller spaces or as part of a mixed border, adding structure without overwhelming other plants.

Seasonal Interest: Its blue green foliage provides a cool, calming effect in the summer, while the golden autumn tones extend its visual appeal. The airy flower panicles in late summer also provide delicate movement and texture.

Low Maintenance: Once established, Prairie Sky Switchgrass is drought tolerant and requires little care. It is also highly adaptable to various soil types and conditions, making it an easy care option for gardeners.

Wildlife Friendly: The flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, and its seed heads provide food for birds in the winter.

Erosion Control: Like many grasses, its deep root system helps prevent soil erosion, making it suitable for planting on slopes or areas where soil stability is a concern.

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.