- Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 3 - 4 Feet
- Mature Spread 3 - 4 Feet
- Growing Zones 4 - 8
Heavy Metal Blue Switch Grass is a stunning addition to any ornamental grass border. Not only does this tough grass tolerate seasonal flooding and droughts, but it has a wide range of colors that appear throughout the year. The steel blue blades of grass turn brilliant shades of maroon and purple in the fall, highlighting the wheat toned seedheads. The steel color looks great when planted with other green and red foliage plants. Burning bush, Snowberry and upright Junipers all make good companion plants.
Heavy Metal has a very dense upright shape that does not need additional staking to look great. Wildlife use the dense foliage growth for shelter, while non-migratory birds will snack on the seedheads all winter. Blue Switch Grass is perfect for including in a Rain Garden plan or adding some modern drama grown in a container on its own. Deer and rabbit resistant.
Heavy Metal Blue Switch Grass
Switch Grass is native to North American and has very few requirements to be successful in your garden. Full sun, average texture soil that is well drained and an annual cutting back in the late winter will ensure that Heavy Metal is happy. Watering deeply and regularly the first year will help this grass establish a deep root system that will be more drought tolerant as years go by.
Switchgrass generally does not need regular fertilizing. Applying an all purpose, slow release food during the early spring every 2-3 years is the recommendation. Cutting back the old growth early in spring is a must. This will help the new growth to be robust and keep the grass tidy and fresh looking.
Heavy Metal Blue Switch Grass Spacing
Heavy Metal is a compact yet taller grass that looks best when it is grouped in multiples of 3 or 5. The mature height is 3-4 feet with a spread of 2-3 feet. Planting along a fenceline or driveway as an informal low hedge is a great use for this tough plant. Space plants at 30 inches on center to maintain good air circulation.
Heavy Metal Blue Switch Grass Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 - 8 |
| Plant Type: |
| Light Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 3 - 4 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 2 - 3 Feet |
| Spacing: 2 - 3 Feet |
| Habit: Upright |
| Flower Color(s): Pink, White |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: July To September |
| Foliage Type: Herbaceous |
| Foliage Color(s): Blue, Yellow |
| Foliage Description: |
| Seasonal Interest: Fall Flowering |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: Deer |
| Tolerates: Drought, Salt |
| Attracts: Birds |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Borders, Containers, Erosion Control, Mass Planting, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flowers, Foliage Interest, Low Maintenance |
| Brand: |
| Common Name: Heavy Metal Blue Switch Grass |
| Other Name(s): |
| Scientific Name: PANICUM VIRGATUM `HEAVY METAL` |
- SKU:
- 1231005338-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations