'Northwind' switchgrass forms a narrow, upright clump of olive to blue-green leaves, with airy flower heads and yellow-beige autumn foliage.
- Height
- 137–153 cm / 4.5–5 ft
- Spread
- 76–92 cm / 2.5–3 ft
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil moisture
- Moist, well-drained
- Flowering
- Fall, Summer
- Maintenance
- Low
- USDA zones
- 5a–9b
Planting
Choose full sun and average, moist, well-drained soil, including sand or clay. Give it room in a border or meadow for slow outward spread by rhizomes.
Care
Leave foliage standing through winter for shelter and soil protection. Cut it back in late winter or early spring before fresh growth develops.
Before planting: Too much shade or overly rich, moist soil can make stems lose their upright form.
Planting 'Northwind' switchgrass?
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Sources & photo credit
Plant reference: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Content checked . Flowering seasons vary with local climate; USDA zones describe winter cold tolerance.
- 'Northwind' switchgrass: David J. Stang · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Switchgrass: Andrey Zharkikh · CC BY 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Korean feather reed grass: Donna Partlan · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Little bluestem: Montrealais · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.