Panicum virgatum Sangria - Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum 'Sangria' is a new variety of upright Panicum. It is particularly compact and remarkably coloured from spring to autumn. The vivid shades of its mostly blood-red foliage evoke those of Imperata 'Red Baron' and the plant can be used in the same way to decorate patios, borders, or sunny beds. The cloudy flowering in late summer adds an additional charm to this dazzling grass, which is also fully hardy and easy to grow everywhere.

Panicum virgatum is a plant from the Poaceae family, which once reigned over the fertile plains of the American Midwest. The 'Sangria' variety is a stockier and highly coloured form of this non-spreading rhizomatous plant. This variety develops clumps composed of long ribbon-like leaves. The leaves emerge in shades of bright green, before quickly and permanently turning red on two-thirds of their length. They are marked by a stiffer central vein, allowing the foliage to maintain its arched and flexible habit while preventing it from bending under rain. Its adult dimensions reach around 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) in height and 40cm (16in) in width. The flowering takes place from August to October. Clumps of foliage emerge from long, stiff stems measuring 1.2m (4ft) covered with plumes measuring 40cm (16in) in length, composed of countless small flowers giving a feathery appearance to the inflorescence. The foliage colouration is even more intense when there are strong temperature variations between day and night. Its vegetation restarts quite late in spring.

Adapted to extreme conditions, panicum can withstand anything: drought, cold, and waterlogged soils. It is versatile and adapts to many situations in the garden, as well as in containers. Non-suckering, this lovely 'Sangria' variety is highly appreciated in small gardens. Much hardier than Imperata 'Red Baron', it possesses comparable ornamental qualities but unlike the latter, it adapts to all our regions, including cold, dry, or coastal areas. It fits in everywhere among perennial plants or bushes and along pathways, where it adds beautiful touches of colour.

The deep root system of Panicum virgatum contributes to soil decompaction, which it protects in winter and enriches with organic matter. This characteristic is used on a large scale, as it allows other plants or crops to grow on poor soils, where it would not have been possible before. Once considered a weed to be eradicated from fields in North America, Panicum virgatum is now considered useful for the restoration or conservation of vulnerable or degraded soils. Its highly developed root system, size, and late vegetative development allow it to protect soils against erosion by water and wind, without hiding the necessary sunlight for other spring species.