Switchgrass ‘Heavy Metal’

Switchgrass ‘Heavy Metal’ (Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’) is a cold-hardy ornamental prairie grass prized for its striking steel-blue foliage and upright, clumping habit. In late summer, airy panicles of pink-red flowers emerge above the leaves, maturing to buff and persisting into winter as architectural interest. Thriving in full sun to part shade and adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soils, it forms a tidy mound that looks superb in mixed borders, meadows or naturalistic plantings. Hardy in Canadian zones 3–9, it’s low-maintenance and deer-resistant, with foliage that withstands wind and holds its colour season-long.

Key Features
• Botanical name: Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’
• Common name: Switchgrass ‘Heavy Metal’
• Hardiness zones: Canada Zone 3–9
• Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Well-drained loam, clay or sandy soils; tolerates drought once established
• Height: 1–1.2 m (3–4 ft)
• Width: 0.6–0.8 m (2–2.5 ft)
• Foliage: Narrow, steel-blue blades throughout the season
• Flower colour: Pink-red panicles ageing to buff
• Bloom time: Late summer to early autumn (August–September)
• Maintenance: Low; cut back to near ground in late winter or early spring
• Advantages: Dramatic foliage colour; upright architectural form; drought- and deer-resistant; excellent for erosion control and mass plantings