A Practically Perfect Panicum

Those of us who have been gardening with Panicums probably aren't at all surprised that Panicum virgatum 'Northwind' has become so popular. It's an outstanding native grass with a graceful upright form, year round beauty, deer resistance, cold and heat hardiness, good wildlife value, drought tolerance and soil adaptability. It's been named the 2014 Perennial Plant of the Year™by the Perennial Plant Association* and that's pretty cool!

While P virgatum 'Northwind' is relatively new to the garden scene (1992), Panicum virgatum has a long history on this continent. It's native to the tall grass prairies of the Great Plains from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean and along with big bluestem, little bluestem and Indian grass. It was grazed by herds of bison, deer and elk and can still be found growing in ‘remnant prairies’ and along interstates throughout much of North America.

summer bloom

It's rather ironic that it took European plant breeders to open our eyes to the versatility and beauty of Panicum virgatum. They've brought us lovely cultivars and spurred American breeders to get on the native grass bandwagon, but, that's not the case with 'Northwind'.  Roy Diblik, of Northwind Farms selected it from a population of Panicum virgatum he raised using wild-collected seed. It had wider leaves and a very upright growth habit unlike other panicums that tended to arch. I am very appreciative of his efforts, 'Northwind' is a stellar cultivar!

I love the panicums and have many in my garden. ‘Northwind’ is without a doubt the most upright of all the cultivars that have been introduced in the last dozen years. That's probably been it's best selling feature, a tall grass that fits beautifully into small or larger gardens. What makes this grass especially attractive to me is its color change from summer through late winter.

In my garden it begins to golden up in September just in time to compliment the purple ex-asters, the reds of Iteas and Aronias.

glowing in the afternoon sun

The fall color is especially gorgeous in the late afternoon when it's backlit by the setting sun.

It's a tawny gold for several months, but, by the end of the winter it's a striking pale blonde that looks incredible in my almost brown landscape! It's also the best time to cut it back!

Late winter is the ideal time to cut your ornamental grasses, just before the new shoots emerge and you risk clipping them off with your shears. Please don't be like many of my Nashville neighbors who allow the mow and blow crews to scalp these beautiful plants to a stub in mid fall!

Think of all the marvelous color changes you would miss and besides the critters need the shelter those golden/tawny/blonde blades offer them all winter.

Thank goodness it won't be long before they start greening up! I miss them terribly when I have to cut them back, but, before long the beautiful olive-blue green leaves will be back helping showcase Itea, the ex-asters, Vernonia, Juniperus, Rudbeckia, Phlox, River oats, Hypericums and the other rough and tumble wildflowers that make their home here at Clay and Limestone.

xoxogail

*  (here for more info)

Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.