Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'
Heavy metal is a switch grass cultivar that features metallic-blue foliage and a columnar form. It is a clump-forming, warm-season grass.
Metallic-blue leaves turn yellow in the Autumn then fading to tan-beige in Winter.
Foliage is topped in Mid-Summer by finely textured, pink-tinged, branched flower panicles that hover over the foliage like an air cloud.
*Deer Seldom Browse*
Photos courtesy of Toms Creek Farm & Nursery in Farmer, North Carolina
| Ornamental Characteristics |
| Category |
Ornamental, Perennial Grass |
| Foliage Type |
Winter Dormant
|
| Height |
2' - 4' |
| Spread |
1' - 4' |
| Shape |
Clump-forming |
| Primary Foliage Color |
Metallic Bluish-green |
| Seasonal Foliage Color |
Dormant in the Winter |
| Flowering Season |
Summer |
| Flower Color |
Pink |
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| Environmental Characteristics |
| Growth Rate |
Moderate |
| Sun Preferences |
Full Sun |
| Water Preferences |
Average: Ensure the planting area is prepared for good drainage. Poor drainage areas may result in 'root rot'. |
| Cold Hardiness Zone |
5 - 9 |
