Shenandoah Switchgrass

Early fall red color, compact size, and near-total site adaptability make this the switchgrass for designed garden borders.

'Shenandoah' is the Switchgrass that earns space in the front of the border. Compact, upright, and one of the earliest to develop fall red color. By midsummer the lower leaves are already blushing, and by September the whole plant is a deep burgundy-red that holds through the first frosts. The airy red flower panicles in summer add a second layer of interest before the foliage color peaks. It handles a wide range of conditions with the adaptability that makes switchgrass a backbone prairie plant: wet soils, dry soils, clay, sand, full sun, or light shade. It adjusts without complaint. Rain garden edges, sunny borders, and mixed perennial beds all work. The compact size keeps it manageable in garden settings without the aggressive spread of taller switchgrass selections. Songbirds work the seeds through fall and winter. Cut it back to 4 inches in late winter. The tightly vase-shaped form holds all season without staking, even in moderately windy sites.