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Products > Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'   Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' - Blue Switch Grass Note: This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.   [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Grass Family: Poaceae (Gramineae) (Grasses) Origin: Prairie Provinces (North America) Flower Color: Pink Bloomtime: Summer Height: 4-5 feet Width: 2-3 feet Exposure: Full Sun Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: < 0 °F Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' (Blue Switch Grass) - A deciduous warm-season narrowly upright clump-forming grass native to the American prairies. It has steely-blue upright foliage to 3-4 ft tall that turns a nice yellow color in fall and attractive airy pink-tinged flowers that rise a foot or more above the foliage in mid-summer. Plant in full sun. Tolerant of most soils and irrigation practices from dry to soggy - shorter when kept dry. Hardy into USDA zone 4. 'Heavy Metal' was a selection made by Kurt Bluemel with chalky-colored foliage - it is more upright than 'Prairie Sky'. It remains attractive as a dormant grass but should be cut back in late winter to early spring so not to detract from the newly emerging foliage.  The information presented on this page is based on research we have conducted about this plant in our library and from reliable online sources. We also consider observations of it growing in our nursery crops, as well as in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens we visit. We will incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome getting feedback from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they include cultural information that would aid others in growing Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'.     [MORE INFO]