Panicum virgatum Heiliger Hain - Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum 'Heiliger Hain' is a variety of upright or erect switch grass. In 2007, it received the Courson award for its remarkably colourful foliage and its compact, dense, columnar habit. This perennial grass has green foliage with blue reflections, which are darker in summer. It quickly develops shades of purple, orange, and violet throughout autumn. Its late summer flowering consists of light pinkish-purple panicles. It is easy to grow and is extremely adaptable to all types of soils, as long as they are not too poor. With its compact and upright habit, it is an excellent structural plant in the garden or on a patio.

Panicum virgatum belongs to the Poaceae family, which once reigned over the fertile plains of the American Midwest, serving as forage for the immense herds of wild bison. The 'Heiliger Hain' variety is a more colourful and compact form of this non-invasive rhizomatous plant. This cultivar develops quite rapidly into narrow and dense clumps of long, ribbon-like, green leaves with very bluish reflections, marked by a stiffer central vein that allows the foliage to maintain its arched and supple habit, but prevents it from bending under the rain. Its mature dimensions will reach around 1.2m (4ft) in height when flowering (60cm (24in) for the foliage) and 50cm (20in) in width. Flowering occurs from August to October. Clumps of foliage emerge from long, stiff stems covered with panicles measuring 40cm (16in) in length, consisting of countless small dark pinkish flowers, giving a feathery appearance to the inflorescence. In autumn, the foliage takes on spectacular shades of burgundy-red to brownish, purplish, and yellow-orange. The colouring is even more intense if there are strong temperature variations between day and night. It is one of the varieties with the darkest foliage colour.

European millet is mainly composed of annual species. Perennial species like Panicum virgatum come from America. Adapted to extreme conditions, panicum can withstand anything: drought, cold, and waterlogged soils. It is versatile and adapts to many situations in the garden. Non-suckering, this tall grass is highly appreciated at the back of slightly wild beds, planted as a screen. It can be planted with tall wild asters, such as Aster laevis or Aster turbinellus, or even Helianthus salicifolius and Verbena hastata. It can also form large groups near bodies of water. This plant is particularly well suited to coastal areas as it tolerates salt spray. It is a wonderful structural plant, perfect in a large container on a patio to create a minimalist scene in a contemporary style.