Prairie Winds® Cheyenne Sky Switch Grass

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3 Feet

Mature Spread

18 Inches

Growing Zones

4 to 9

The deep blue leaves of Prairie Winds Cheyenne Sky Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum) turn wine-colored red in early summer. The petite ornamental grass is just right for thrilling containers, and it has so many other uses in the landscape. A row of these switch grass plants can give you a color-changing border, especially next to sidewalks or driveways. It can handle salt you throw out in winter and tolerates drought. In summer, delicate flowers, or seed heads, appear above the foliage.

As if Prairie Winds Cheyenne Sky Switch Grass didn't have enough great features, add its easy maintenance. Its clumpy form makes it an excellent choice for erosion control on hills and berms, especially in natural-looking landscapes. Prairie Winds grass grows to no more than 3 feet tall and 18 inches wide, so planting several in a row can create a low hedge or divider. The grass grows in zones 4 through 9.

Prairie Winds Cheyenne Sky Switch Grass Care

Prairie Winds Cheyenne Sky Switch Grass needs full sun but little else. The native to North America grows in nearly any type of soil, from sand to clay. Give it a little extra water in its first growing season, and then let nature do the work. Homeowners only have to cut the grass back in spring before new growth appears. You can leave the grass tall through fall and winter for year-round appeal. Cut a few flower stalks off for arrangements if you like.

Prairie Winds Cheyenne Sky Switch Grass Spacing

If planting a group or row of Prairie Winds Cheyenne Sky Switch Grass for a hedge or border, be sure to space the plants at least 18 inches apart from center to center. Plant it in the center or back of a container for dramatic height.