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Shenandoah Switch Grass

$8995 $13995
Size: 3 Gallon
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Your Plants are Guaranteed to Grow

Your plants are guaranteed to arrive happy & healthy with our 1 Year Warranty. Your order will arrive healthy and stay healthy while they adapt to your climate. If your tree arrives damaged or dies within 30 days, we'll replace it for free. If it dies after 30 days, but before 1 year, we will replace it for just 50% of the current price.

Free Shipping on All Orders

Relax... we've got you covered with free shipping on every order! We ship out so many huge plants, we've negotiated a low rate with our carriers... and we pass those savings on to you! Your plants will ship out the next business day... expertly packed so that your plants will arrive happy and healthy!

Is Now a Good Time to Plant?

Yes! Fall is one of the best times to plant!

Landscaping experts often recommend planting in fall instead of waiting until spring. Here’s why:

  • Cooler weather puts less stress on newly planted trees and shrubs.
  • Fall soil is still warm, which helps roots grow and get established.
  • Cooler temperatures mean less water is lost through the leaves, making it easier for plants to stay hydrated.
  • Even after top growth slows for winter, roots continue developing below ground.
  • Fall weather often brings more rain and less heat, making new plants easier to care for.
  • By spring, your plants already have a head start. Their established roots can support strong new leaves, branches, and flowers.
  • Trees planted in spring must establish their roots while also dealing with rising temperatures and summer heat.

Plant this fall, and your trees can spend the cooler months getting settled instead of waiting until spring to get started!

Planting your Shenandoah Switch Grass

Planting Instructions for Shenandoah Switch Grass

  1. Choosing the Right Location: Plant Shenandoah Switch Grass in full to partial sun. Full sun gives the strongest red and burgundy color and the sturdiest, most upright clumps, so aim for at least six hours of direct sun if possible. It grows in USDA zones 4 through 9 and suits borders, slopes, rain gardens, and tough sunny spots where other plants struggle.
  2. Soil Preparation: This native grass adapts to a wide range of soils, including poor, dry, sandy, and clay soils, and tolerates occasional wet periods. Loosen the soil in the planting area; heavy amending is not needed. Avoid spots with constant standing water.
  3. Planting: Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep, so the crown sits level with the surrounding soil. Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart, center to center, for a continuous band of color, or closer to 3 feet for individual accents. Each clump reaches about 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.
  4. Mulching and First Watering: Water deeply right after planting to settle the soil. A 2 inch layer of mulch around the clump, kept off the crown, helps hold moisture and suppress weeds while the roots establish.

Care Instructions

  1. Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season so the deep roots can develop, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. After that, it is drought tolerant and usually needs extra water only during long dry spells.
  2. Fertilizing: Switch grass needs little or no fertilizer, and too much nitrogen can make the stems floppy. If growth looks weak in very poor soil, a light application of balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring is plenty.
  3. Pest and Disease Monitoring: This tough native is rarely bothered by pests or disease. Occasional rust spots may appear on leaves in humid weather; good sun and airflow usually keep it in check. Deer usually leave it alone, though no plant is completely deer-proof.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care

  1. Pruning: Cut back the clump once a year in late winter or early spring, before new green shoots appear. Trim the whole clump down to about 4 to 6 inches above the ground to make way for fresh growth.
  2. Winter Care: Leave the foliage standing through winter. The upright clump fades to a golden tan that adds seasonal interest, catches frost beautifully, and provides shelter for wildlife. No other winter protection is needed within its zones.
  3. Dividing Clumps: Established clumps fill out a little more each year. If the center begins to thin after several years, dig and divide the clump in early spring, replanting the vigorous outer sections.

Additional Tips for Growing Shenandoah Switch Grass

  1. Season-Long Color: Foliage starts spring blue-green, begins blushing red by early summer, and deepens to rich burgundy and wine-red by fall. The color intensifies as the season goes on and shows best in full sun.
  2. Wildlife Value: Seed heads feed birds through fall and winter, and the clumps shelter pollinators and beneficial insects. Waiting until late winter to cut it back gives wildlife the most benefit. It is a North American native, so it fits naturally into pollinator gardens.
  3. Screening and Slopes: Mass several plants for a soft, see-through screen along a fence or property line. The deep roots help hold soil in place on slopes. Clumps stay upright and neat without flopping, so they hold their shape all season.
What Customers say about the Shenandoah Switch Grass:

The Shenandoah Switch Grass thrives in Zones 4-9

Growing Zones for the Shenandoah Switch Grass

If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Shenandoah Switch Grass.

Your Growing Zone
Recommended Zones 4-9
Mature Height 4 ft.
Mature Width 2-3 ft.
Cannot Ship To AZ, OR
Sunlight Full to Partial Sun
Botanical Name Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'

Plants that Make a Difference

For 20+ years, our team has shipped healthy, established plants to gardeners like you- all across the country. Every plant is selected and cared for by our plant experts before it ships to your door.

  • 20+ Years Experience

  • Superior Quality

  • Free Shipping on All Orders

  • Guaranteed to Grow

Shenandoah Switch Grass

Beware- not all Shenandoah Switch Grass is the same.

Be sure to get superior ornamental grasses, grown by experts.

Better Roots Make Stronger Plants: Some nurseries send you "bare root" ornamental grasses to save on shipping. Even worse, others have started digging them right out of the ground before shipping. This causes major transplant shock and long-term damage. We send you Shenandoah Switch Grass in soil-filled containers- ensuring a well-developed root system that will explode with growth!

Healthy Plants: We've seen other nurseries grow tall ornamental grasses in tiny pots to save on shipping. This leads to a "root bound" plant, where the roots have outgrown their pot- they cannot absorb water and nutrients. They quickly dry out during shipment, leading to an unhealthy plant.

Shenandoah Switch Grass gives you color that changes all season- a tough native grass that practically takes care of itself.

  • Color that shifts from blue-green in spring to red, then deep burgundy and wine-red by fall
  • Drought tolerant once established and handles poor, dry or clay soil
  • Deer resistant and low maintenance: just cut it back once a year in late winter
  • Neat, upright clump about 4 ft. tall and 2-3 ft. wide, hardy in zones 4-9

Not all plants are created equal

The Difference Is in the Roots

Every plant we ship has grown in a nursery container with its roots protected, so it arrives healthy, established and ready to thrive in your yard.

A full, branched Nationwide Plants tree in a nursery pot next to a thin bare-root tree with exposed roots Ours: container grown Theirs: bare root
Nationwide Plants Other Nurseries
How it's grown Grown in a nursery container, roots protected the whole time Pulled or dug from the field, tearing fragile roots
How it arrives Arrives in its pot with soil intact Arrives bare root, exposed and drying out
Before shipping Growing naturally until it ships Held dormant in a cooler, then shocked by a hot shipping box
Root health Strong, well-developed roots with room to grow Crammed into a small pot until it's root bound
Height Measured from the top of the soil Often includes the pot and roots
After planting Settles in quickly with less transplant shock Arrives stressed and can take years to recover, if it does

The height you see is the height you plant.

We measure every plant from the top of the soil, not the bottom of the pot. Many nurseries include the pot and roots, so a "5–6 ft." tree from them might stand only 4 ft. tall once it's planted.

Comparisons reflect common practices across the online plant industry, not any single company.

Honest Measurements: Some nurseries measure plants including the pot and roots, so the plant you receive is much smaller than you expected. We measure all of our plants from the soil line, so the height you see is what you can expect after planting.

From our nursery to your door

How We Ship Your Plants

Every order is hand-selected, watered and carefully packed so it arrives healthy and ready to plant. Here's what happens after you place your order.

  1. Hand-Picked for You

    Our team selects the best plant available for your order. For privacy trees, that's the tallest and fullest. For fruit trees, it's the best branched.

    Why it matters: Many online nurseries ship whatever is next in the row.

  2. A Deep Drink Before the Trip

    Every plant gets a thorough watering right before it's packed, so it starts the journey fully hydrated.

  3. Roots Sealed In

    We wrap the pot and roots in plastic to lock in moisture, so your plant has water to drink all the way to your door.

    Why it matters: Bare-root plants are often shipped with their roots exposed and drying out.

  4. Braced for the Ride

    Cardboard inserts are secured inside every box to hold your plant in place, so it won't slide, tip or get damaged in transit.

  5. Shipped Only by FedEx

    We ship your trees exclusively with FedEx. We've found they deliver the fastest and handle live plants the most gently.

And if anything goes wrong, every plant is backed by our 1 Year Warranty.

Healthy Roots Make a Huge Difference

  • Never buy bare-root plants. These trees are starved of nutrients, and have a low survival rate.
  • Beware of nurseries cut corners by growing in small pots. These "rootbound" plants are weak, struggle to absorb nutrients, and die quickly after planting.
  • Some nurseries try to sell oversized plants, but chop off vital roots so they can cram the rootball into a narrow box to save on shipping!

You Want Shenandoah Switch Grass Grown by Experts

Some nurseries ship small, weak grasses grown in tiny pots to save money. These "root bound" plants take extra seasons to fill out and bloom.

Nationwide Plants only sends you strong Shenandoah Switch Grass, selected and cared for by our plant experts, with healthy, developed root systems. That means it fills out quickly and shows off its red and burgundy color sooner.

Read more about the Shenandoah Switch Grass

Shenandoah Switch Grass: A Fiery Red Show That Runs From Summer to Winter

If you want color that changes and glows all season long, the Shenandoah Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah') delivers. This upright native grass starts spring in cool blue-green, blushes red by early summer, then deepens to rich burgundy and wine-red by fall. Airy plumes rise above the blades and catch the light, and the whole plant stands tall through winter for months of interest. Best of all, it's a tough, native grass that practically takes care of itself. Plant one, and your yard gets a living, color-shifting sculpture that lasts.

  • Grown & delivered by experts to ensure your success. Your grass arrives strong, well-rooted, and ready to take off at home.
  • Color that changes all season. Blue-green in spring warms to red, then deep burgundy and wine by fall.
  • Tough, drought-tolerant native. Thrives in sun and almost any soil once established.
  • Deer-resistant and low-maintenance. Deer leave it alone, and it needs just one yearly cutback.
  • Four seasons of interest. Airy plumes and upright blades stand tall right through winter.

You'll spend less time working in the yard and more time enjoying a view that keeps changing. This is a plant-it-and-relax grass: no fussy care, no chemical sprays, no worrying over the perfect soil. It thrives in tough, sunny spots and holds its own through drought, so a hard or empty patch finally becomes a striking focal point. Its color shifts from cool blue-green to fiery burgundy over the season, so your yard never looks static, and when winter strips everything else bare, it still stands tall and golden. That's more beauty, less work, and a landscape that stays interesting every month of the year.

Color That Puts on a Year-Long Show

Most plants give you one look and one short season. Shenandoah gives you a whole show. Cool blue-green blades warm to red in summer, then blaze into burgundy and wine-red by fall, topped with delicate, glowing plumes. Even in winter, its upright golden form catches frost and low light beautifully. So your garden stays alive and interesting long after the flowers have faded.

The Easiest Beauty You'll Ever Plant

Gardening should feel good, not exhausting. As a tough North American native, this grass shrugs off heat, drought, and poor soil, and it needs only a single yearly trim in late winter to look its best. Deer leave it alone, and it comes back stronger every spring. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or planting your very first bed, it rewards you with months of color for almost no effort.

Fits Anywhere You Want Height and Movement

At 3 to 4 feet tall in a neat, upright clump, this grass fits almost anywhere without flopping or sprawling. Use it as a bold accent, mass several for a colorful screen or hedge, line a border, or plant it in a rain garden or on a slope. It even holds soil in place with its deep roots. One easy plant, endless ways to add height, color, and gentle movement to your yard.

A Haven for Birds and Butterflies

This grass does more than look stunning. Its plumes and seeds feed birds through the fall and winter, and the plant shelters pollinators and beneficial insects. So your yard becomes a livelier, more welcoming place for wildlife. You get four seasons of beauty, and nature gets food and shelter in return.

Why Order From Nationwide Plants

  • Shipped healthy and well-rooted, never bare-root. Your grass arrives in soil with a strong, established root system, so it settles in fast instead of struggling to recover.
  • Backed by our guarantee. Every plant is covered by our 1-Year Limited Warranty and 30-Day Plant Promise, so if anything isn't right, we'll replace it or refund it.
  • Free shipping and expert care. Our nursery team hand-selects, waters, and carefully packs your plant, then ships it free, so it reaches your door happy and ready to grow.

Don't Settle for a Flat, Lifeless Yard

Every season you wait is one more without this fiery, color-shifting grass bringing your yard to life. Your plant ships fast, arrives healthy, and comes backed by our guarantee. Soon the neighbors will be asking what that glowing red grass is, and it could be yours. Order your Shenandoah Switch Grass today, before you wish you had.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Shenandoah Switch Grass

How tall does Shenandoah Switch Grass get?

Shenandoah Switch Grass grows about 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, including its airy flower plumes. It forms a neat, upright clump that holds its shape without flopping. That size makes it a great accent in borders, a colorful mass planting, or a soft, see-through screen along a fence or property line.

What zones does Shenandoah Switch Grass grow in?

Shenandoah Switch Grass grows in USDA zones 4 through 9. As a North American native, it handles cold winters, hot summers, and a wide range of conditions across most of the country. Once established, it returns reliably every spring and fills out a little more each year.

When does Shenandoah Switch Grass turn red?

Shenandoah Switch Grass starts spring blue-green, begins blushing red by early summer, and deepens to rich burgundy and wine-red by fall. The color intensifies as the season goes on and shows best in full sun. Through winter, the upright clump fades to a golden tan that still adds interest to the garden.

Does Shenandoah Switch Grass need full sun?

Shenandoah Switch Grass grows in full to partial sun, but full sun gives the strongest red and burgundy color and the sturdiest, most upright clumps. In partial shade it still grows well, though the foliage may stay greener and the stems can lean a bit. Aim for at least six hours of direct sun if possible.

When should I cut back Shenandoah Switch Grass?

Cut back Shenandoah Switch Grass once a year in late winter or early spring, before new green shoots appear. Trim the whole clump down to about 4 to 6 inches above the ground. Leaving the foliage standing through winter provides seasonal interest and shelter for wildlife, then the fresh cut makes way for new growth.

Is Shenandoah Switch Grass drought tolerant?

Yes, Shenandoah Switch Grass is drought tolerant once established. Water it regularly during its first growing season so the deep roots can develop. After that, it usually needs extra water only during long dry spells. It also tolerates poor soil, which makes it a great choice for tough, sunny spots where other plants struggle.

Is Shenandoah Switch Grass deer resistant?

Yes, Shenandoah Switch Grass is deer resistant, and deer usually leave it alone. That makes it a dependable choice for yards where deer browse on shrubs and flowers. No plant is completely deer-proof, but ornamental grasses like switch grass are among the least likely to be damaged.

How far apart should I plant Shenandoah Switch Grass?

Plant Shenandoah Switch Grass about 2 to 3 feet apart, center to center. At that spacing, the clumps grow close enough to form a continuous band of color for a border or informal screen. For individual accent plants with space around them, allow closer to 3 feet so each clump can show its upright shape.

Can Shenandoah Switch Grass grow in wet or poor soil?

Yes, Shenandoah Switch Grass adapts to a wide range of soils, including poor, dry, sandy, and clay soils. It also tolerates occasional wet periods, which is why it works well in rain gardens and on slopes. Its deep roots help hold soil in place. Avoid spots with constant standing water.

Does Shenandoah Switch Grass attract birds and pollinators?

Yes, Shenandoah Switch Grass supports wildlife. Its seed heads feed birds through fall and winter, and the clumps provide shelter for pollinators and beneficial insects. Leaving the foliage standing until late winter gives birds and insects the most benefit before you cut the plant back for spring.
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