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Panicum virgatum 'Blue Giants' / Switch Grass / Ornamental Grass / Seeds

(Code: JEL_039)
£ 1.99
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Panicum virgatum 'Blue Giants' /  Switch Grass / Ornamental Grass / Seeds

Panicum ‘Blue Giants’ is a recently released tall variety of Switch Grass, bred specifically for ornamental use in gardens.  The plants grow clumps of green-blue leaves and upright spikes of white to pale pink flower panicles up to 1.8m tall.  The panicles appear in late summer and then dry out gradually as the weather cools, making an appealing winter display.  The panicles are good cut flowers. 


Panicum grows best in a sunny position in well drained soils. It is drought tolerant once established and generally untroubled by pests. 


Pack of approx 50 seeds.  Sow the seeds in spring to summer.  Germination is erratic, so sow more than you need.  Sowing instructions and a colour photo are printed on the packet.


See how your seeds are packed.


Hardiness Hardy deciduous perennial grass (RHS Hardiness H5)
Flowers Late summer and autumn, plus a good winter display
Height 1.5 - 2m
Spread 50 - 100cm
Conditions  Sun and well-drained soils
Sow

Sow the seeds in spring and summer.  Firstly, rub the seeds gently with sandpaper.  Then sow the seeds onto the surface of a tray of compost.  Cover very lightly with compost.  Keep the tray at around 20 degrees Celcius and germination starts in about 4 weeks and can take several months, so do not discard the seed tray too quickly.   Prick out seedlings into pots and plant out after hardening off. 

Grow

Plants grow into clumps of leaves and flower in late summer.  The drying leaves and flowers are generally left on the plant over winter to provide winter interest, then cut back and removed in spring once the plant shows signs of regrowth.  Mature plants can be divided in spring.