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Panicum virgatum 'Hot Rod' (Switch grass 'Hot Rod')

Other names: Switchgrass 'Hot Rod', Panic grass 'Hot Rod'

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Variety or Cultivar
'Hot Rod' is a clump-forming, deciduous, perennial grass with upright, flat, linear, blue-green leaves quickly turning maroon. Large, airy panicles of tiny, red to reddish-purple flowers bloom from midsummer to early autumn.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
0.9 m 0.6 m 2-5 years
2 ft 1 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Grow in full sun in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil.

Suggested uses

Architectural, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, City, Low Maintenance, Prairie planting

UK hardiness

USDA zones

Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9

Sunset zone

1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Moderate/Medium
Central Valley = Low
South Coastal = Moderate/Medium
South Inland = Moderate/Medium
High and Intermediate Desert = Moderate/Medium
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Upright, Clump-forming

Native to

Garden origin

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Remove dead foliage and old flowered stems in spring.

Propagation methods

Seed, Division

Pests

Generally pest free

Diseases

Generally disease free

Divide and replant in spring

Plant container grown plants in moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Plant container grown plants in a sunny postion

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (41)

Panicum

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Panicum virgatum 'Blue Tower'
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Panicum virgatum 'Blue Tower' Switch grass 'Blue Tower'
Panicum virgatum 'Cloud Nine'
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Panicum virgatum 'Cloud Nine' Switch grass 'Cloud Nine'
Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky'
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Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky' Switch grass 'Prairie Sky'
Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues'
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Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues' Switch grass 'Dallas Blues'
Panicum elegans 'Frosted Explosion'
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Panicum elegans 'Frosted Explosion' Switch grass 'Frosted Explosion'
Panicum virgatum 'Northwind'
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Panicum virgatum 'Northwind' Switch grass 'Northwind'
Panicum virgatum
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Panicum virgatum Switch grass
Panicum virgatum 'Rehbraun'
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Panicum virgatum 'Rehbraun' Switch grass 'Rehbraun'
Panicum virgatum 'Warrior'
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Panicum virgatum 'Warrior' Switch grass 'Warrior'
Panicum virgatum 'Rubrum'
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Panicum virgatum 'Rubrum' Switch grass 'Rubrum'
Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'
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Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' Switch grass 'Shenandoah'
Panicum virgatum 'Squaw'
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Panicum virgatum 'Squaw' Switch grass 'Squaw'
Panicum virgatum 'Hanse Herms'
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Panicum virgatum 'Hanse Herms' Switch grass 'Hanse Herms'
Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'
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Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' Switch grass 'Heavy Metal'
Panicum virgatum 'Strictum'
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Panicum virgatum 'Strictum' Switch grass 'Strictum'
Panicum virgatum 'Sangria'
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Panicum virgatum 'Sangria' Switch grass 'Sangria'
Panicum virgatum 'JS Blue Darkness'
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Panicum virgatum 'JS Blue Darkness' Switch grass 'JS Blue Darkness'
Panicum virgatum 'Rotstrahlbusch'
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Panicum virgatum 'Rotstrahlbusch' Switch grass 'Rotstrahlbusch'
Panicum virgatum 'Thundercloud'
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Panicum virgatum 'Thundercloud' Switch grass 'Thundercloud'
Panicum virgatum 'Kulsenmoor'
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Panicum virgatum 'Kulsenmoor' Switch grass 'Kulsenmoor'
Panicum virgatum 'Cheyenne Sky'
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Panicum virgatum 'Cheyenne Sky' Switch grass 'Cheyenne Sky'
Panicum dichotomiflorum
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Panicum dichotomiflorum Fall panicgrass
Panicum capillare 'Sparkling Fountain'
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Panicum capillare 'Sparkling Fountain' Witch grass 'Sparkling Fountain'
Panicum amarum
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Panicum amarum Bitter switch grass
Panicum virgatum 'Purple Tears'
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Panicum virgatum 'Purple Tears' Switch grass 'Purple Tears'
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Companion plants (0)

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