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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 displayed on this page is based on research conducted about this plant in our library and from reliable online sources. We also consider observations that we have made of it growing in the nursery's garden and in other gardens, as well how it has performed in our crops out in the nursery field. We will incorporate comments that we receive from others as well, and welcome hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they have knowledge of cultural information we do not mention that would aid others in growing Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'.     [MORE INFO]