Perennial grass
Switchgrass plant profile
Panicum virgatum
A perennial grass for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Switchgrass
Switchgrass is a warm-season perennial grass established from seed or by division. NC State directs you to prune it back severely in late winter to early spring, so set out new plants or divisions as that spring growth resumes.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Switchgrass in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 36 to 72 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 5a to 9bFind my hardiness zone
Next steps
Continue with Switchgrass
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.