Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum)
An attractive grass that various insects feed on. It is the host plant to 22 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) including the threatened Ottoe Skipper (mnfi.anr.msu.edu/). The seeds of Switch Grass are eaten by a variety of birds, including wetland birds, upland gamebirds, and granivorous songbirds (illinoiswildflower.info) (Bird Table). Switch Grass provides good cover for various birds and mammals during the winter, so consider not cutting it back in the fall. A prolific self-seeder and rhizomatous, so it should be used with caution in a small landscape.
Photo credit: Matt Levin
An attractive grass that various insects feed on. It is the host plant to 22 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) including the threatened Ottoe Skipper (mnfi.anr.msu.edu/). The seeds of Switch Grass are eaten by a variety of birds, including wetland birds, upland gamebirds, and granivorous songbirds (illinoiswildflower.info) (Bird Table). Switch Grass provides good cover for various birds and mammals during the winter, so consider not cutting it back in the fall. A prolific self-seeder and rhizomatous, so it should be used with caution in a small landscape.
Photo credit: Matt Levin
An attractive grass that various insects feed on. It is the host plant to 22 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org) including the threatened Ottoe Skipper (mnfi.anr.msu.edu/). The seeds of Switch Grass are eaten by a variety of birds, including wetland birds, upland gamebirds, and granivorous songbirds (illinoiswildflower.info) (Bird Table). Switch Grass provides good cover for various birds and mammals during the winter, so consider not cutting it back in the fall. A prolific self-seeder and rhizomatous, so it should be used with caution in a small landscape.
Photo credit: Matt Levin
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Height: 4 feet
Plant Spacing: 2-4 feet
Bloom Time: July-September
Advantages: Bird Favorite, Deer Resistant, Recommended by very vigorous
Host Plant: 22 species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org)
Beneficial Endangered or Threatened Species: Ottoe Skipper (Hesperia ottoe) (mnfi.anr.msu.edu/)
