Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’

Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’
“Switch Grass”
POACEAE

Deciduous Perennial Grass

Zone:  5 – 9
Range: North America

Conditions
Soil: any
Moisture: average to wet to dry
Light: full sun (best) tolerates part shade but may flop over and loose form
Exposure: general
Plant size (h x w): 3′ – 4′ x 1′ – 2′
Other: very adaptable to a wide array of conditions
Aesthetic
Shape/stem: clump forming, upright, tidy
Leaf: grass-like, bluey grey green leaves, yellow in the fall, nasal, parallel venation, soft/flexible, thin, linear, even width along, serrulate, obvious sheathing
Flower: spikelet/plume, showy, pinkish silver panicle, airy look
Bloom: summer
Other: fruit is grain in late fall; leaves last well into the winter

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: general;
Maintenance: low maintenance; cut down whenever it begins to look bad (early spring/late winter/late fall), never cut hard into crown, leave 3-4″; divide as needed 
Propagation: division (spring or late fall), seed (no self-seeding here in Victoria yet)

Use
Use: fall interest, container, rain garden, bog garden, late summer interest, accent, filler, mass planting, perennial boarder, waterside, soubd garden,
Companion:  ideas: Aster novae-angelinea, Calamintha nepeta, Achillea, Asclepias tuberosa, Eupatorium dubium Other:

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none significant
Deer resistant: yes
Other animals:

Interest
Local info,: native to North America, cultivar of garden origin
Nature: adaptable upright ornamental grass
Identification (key features): Upright grass holding form into winter; Spikelets arranged in open panicles, feathery, silvery, late summer; leaves obvious sheathing, grey-blue colour, even width along, basal
Interesting facts: 
Cultivars: – ‘Prairie Sky’ – nice cultivar with good colour (silvery green with purple tingest and purple panicle) 2′ – 6′ x 1′ – 3′
P. v. ‘hanse Herms’ – darker maroon in fall, lovely if you can find it