Panicum virgatum Oxblood Autumn

Panicum virgatum 'Oxblood Autumn' is a variety of switchgrass whose foliage changes colour between summer and autumn. It is a medium-sized perennial grass with leaves that gradually turn shades of burgundy and dark purple towards the end of the season. Its hazy flowering adds extra charm to this fully hardy and easy-to-grow grass.

Panicum virgatum belongs to the Poaceae family. It once dominated the fertile plains of the American Midwest, providing valuable fodder for the immense herds of wild bison. The 'Oxblood Autumn' variety is a more compact and colourful form of this non-running rhizomatous plant. It forms clumps of long, ribbon-like leaves that are initially a fairly bright green. In August, they turn red from their tips. They are marked by a stiffer central vein, helping the foliage maintain its arching and flexible habit while preventing it from bending under rain. When fully grown, it will reach approximately 90cm (35in) in height and 60cm (24in) in width, depending on growing conditions. Flowering occurs from August to October. Tufts of foliage emerge from long, stiff stems bearing feathery plumes measuring 30 to 40cm (12 to 16in) in length, made up of countless small flowers that give the inflorescence a plume-like appearance. The colour of the flowers changes over time, transitioning from reddish-purple to brown, and then to straw yellow. The foliage colouration is more intense when there are significant temperature fluctuations between day and night. The vegetation starts quite late in spring.

Adapted to extreme conditions, panicum can withstand anything: severe summer drought, heat, cold, and waterlogged soils. It is versatile and adapts to many situations in the garden, as well as in containers. This beautiful non-suckering variety fits in well among perennial plants or bushes and along pathways, where it adds beautiful touches of colour and lightness. It pairs well with other medium-sized grasses in a minimalist or refined setting. It also works well with shrubby salvias, dwarf blue foliage conifers, and sun-loving ground cover perennials.

The deep root system of Panicum virgatum helps to loosen compacted soils, protecting them in winter and enriching them with organic matter. This characteristic is used on a large scale, as it helps other plants or crops to grow on inhospitable soils where it would not have been possible before. Once considered a weed to be eradicated from fields in North America, P. virgatum is now seen as useful for the restoration or conservation of vulnerable or degraded soils. Its extensive root system, size, and late vegetative growth protect the soil from erosion by water and wind, without blocking the necessary sunlight for other spring species.