General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates a wide range of soils, including dry ones, but prefers moist, sandy or clay soils. May flop in overly rich soils. Generally performs best in full sun. Will grow in part shade, but begins to lose its form in too much shade, growing more openly and possibly falling over. Grows primarily in clumps, but may slowly spread by creeping rhizomes. Cut back clumps to the ground in late winter to early spring.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
‘Dallas Blues’ is a switch grass cultivar that is noted for its grayed blue-green foliage, dense habit, unusually large flower panicles, late flowering and rich winter foliage color. It is a clump-forming, warm season grass that typically grows in a dense, upright, vase-shaped clump to 5’ tall. Grayed blue-green foliage is wider than most panicums, and foliage turns attractive shades of rust brown to warm tan in winter. Stems typically retain vertical form without flopping throughout the growing season and into winter. Foliage clump is topped in early September by large, finely-textured, purple-tinged flower panicles that hover over the foliage like a cloud. Seed plumes persist throughout winter, providing visual interest as well as food for birds. U. S. Plant Patent PP11,202 was issued on February 1, 2000.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Some susceptibility to rust, particularly in hot, humid summer climates.
Uses:
Accent, group or mass. Also effective as a screen. Perennial borders, wild gardens, native plant gardens, prairies, meadows or naturalized areas. Also appropriate for water gardens and bog gardens.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
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