Cloud Nine Switchgrass

Cloud Nine Switchgrass is a wonderful larger ornamental grass, with bold blue leaves rising in a large clump to stand 5 feet tall. These are topped in summer and fall with a large cloud of thousands of flowers and seeds, like a golden mist. The whole plant turns beige and brown for winter, and stands well, unless you have a lot of heavy snow. It is perfect where you want impact, looking great behind perennials, among shrubs, on slopes and banks, beside water, or in natural settings and prairie-style gardens (it’s derived from a native species). It also grows well at the seaside and at beach cottages. A reliable bloomer, unlike maiden grass, in cooler zones, and a winter refuge and source of food for native birds.

• Striking large ornamental grass, especially in cooler zones
• Bold blue leaves turn golden brown in fall and stand all winter
• Topped by a cloud of yellow to beige flowers through summer and fall
• Incredibly tough in all conditions, from drought to flood
• A grass of our prairies and valuable food and shelter for native birds

Plant the Cloud Nine Switchgrass in an area of full sun, although it can handle a couple of hours of shade each day too. Plant it in just about any soil, from acid to alkaline, and from sand to clay. Once established it is very drought resistant, yet it will also grow in wet ground. Also resistant to salt-spray and brackish water, so it grows well in coastal areas. Generally completely free of pest or disease problems, and needs nothing more than an annual cutting down. Do this in early spring, or in late fall if you live in an area with heavy winter snowfall, which will collapse it.