USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b  Find Your Zone

Plant Type:  Ornamental Grass

Flower Color:  Plum color

Flower Size:  Small in large clouds (panicles)

Flowering Period:  Mid-Summer through Winter

Flower Type:  Airy cloud

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color:  Blue-Green 

Fragrant Foliage:  No 

Berries:  No

Berry Color:  na

Attracts:  Visual Attention, Birds

Resistances:  Deer, Disease, Heat, Humidity, Insect, Rabbits, Wet Soil

Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society and providing four-season interest in the landscape, 'Hanse Herms' Red Switch Grass is a robust grower featuring gracefully arching steely blue foliage tipped in red that turns to vibrant burgundy-red all over as the season progresses. Hanse Herms forms an impressive upright and narrow fountain-like clump to around 4 feet tall and maybe 3 feet wide that is topped in summer by clouds of pretty pink flowers that turn to buff color as they age. The flower panicles persist for months and are excellent for cutting and use in cut flower arrangements. Winter brings a fourth season of enjoyment as the rustling grass also turns to buff color. A major asset to wildlife, quail and songbirds gobble up the tiny seeds and will use the sturdy foliage clumps as a cold weather shelter.

Switch Grass is very easy to grow in a wide range of soils, even clay, sandy and dry soils, though they prefer the soil to be moist. They don't like an organically rich soil so there's no need to add compost or humus to the native soil when planting. Grows best in full sun but will tolerate some light shade. Too much shade and plants might become floppy. Maintenance is minimal. Cut clumps back to the ground in late winter before new growth begins to emerge.

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