• My Account
  • My Wish List
  • Sign In
  • Compare Products
  • Create an Account
Toggle Nav
Search
Home
My Account

Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'

Common name: Switch grass

Strong, vertical interest with a naturalistic style

-10 to -15°C
Good Cut Flowers

Available as:

What will I receive?
9cm Pots
1 for £14.00
just £14.00 each
3 for £24.00
just £8.00 each
5 for £34.00
just £6.80 each
- +
Add to Wish List

Free UK Delivery on orders of £50

No Quibble Guarantee

main product photo

Haylofters also love

Tell Me More...
An attractive and unusual cultivar of a North American prairie grass, Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' is notable for its particularly upright clumps of steely, blue-grey leaves. From August to September, this bold, linear foliage is softened with a mass of hazy, cloud-like panicles of purplish pink flowers, bringing movement and an airy quality to your garden. Foliage turns a glorious golden yellow in autumn, before fading to buff. We like to leave this grass to provide structural form and a beneficial habitat for overwintering wildlife. Cut back just before new growth emerges in early spring. Mix with tall flowering perennials such as aster, echinacea and verbena, for a swaying, naturalistic effect. Prefers preferably light, moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. H: 1.2m S: 1m. Hardy deciduous perennial.
Flower and Foliage Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Foliage Month

Flowering Month

Key Information
Latin Name Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' 9cm pot
Common Name Switch grass
Hardiness H5 (-10 to -15°C)
Colour Purple
Type Perennial
Format 9cm Pots
Position Full-Sun
Foliage Deciduous
Height in Maturity (m) 1.20 m
Spread in Maturity (m) 1.00
AGM Yes
Soil Conditions Chalk Loam Sand
Soil Acidity Acid Alkaline Neutral
Aspect South-facing, West-facing
Drought Tolerant Yes
Good for pots Yes
Good for Rockeries Yes
Good for wildlife Yes
Good for cutting Yes

Our Story

Hayloft was founded by Yvonne in 1992. Since then we have grown into one of the UK’s favourite online plant nurseries.

Read our story