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Public Plant Profile

Shenandoah Red Switch Grass

Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'

Category: Grass • Switch Grass

Shenandoah Red Switch Grass features stunning red foliage and is perfect for mass plantings and accents.

Mature Height: 3-4 feet
Mature Width: 2-3 feet
Bloom Color: Brown, Gold
Bloom Time: Late Summer to Fall
Light: Sun
Zone: Zones 5-9
Maintenance: Low
Growth Rate: Moderate
Season of Interest: Multi-season
Foliage: Deciduous
Bold Outdoors Verified Insight

Designed & Reviewed by

Josh Graber

Owner and Landscape Designer · Kansas State University · 25+ Years Experience

B.S. in Horticulture and Landscape Design – Kansas State University

25+ years of industry experience

Description

Shenandoah Red Switch Grass is a warm-season perennial grass known for its striking burgundy-red foliage that turns to a rich copper in the fall. It adds texture and movement to gardens and is drought-tolerant once established.

Ideal Conditions

Thrives in full sun to partial shade. Prefers well-drained soils with moderate moisture.

Soil Preferences

Well-drained soil is ideal, tolerates a range of pH levels, and adapts to various soil types.

Sun Needs

Sun

Landscape Guidance

Landscape Use

mass plantingaccent

Special Features

Attractive red-tinted foliagedrought-tolerant

Wildlife Value

Attracts pollinators and provides habitat for birds.

Resistance / Tolerance

Drought tolerant.

Notes from Our Designer

Great for adding color and texture to gardens. Works well in naturalistic settings.

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Explore related plants, compare shape, texture, and overall planting style, and get a better feel for what may fit your own outdoor space.

Use this page to get a feel for where Shenandoah Red Switch Grass may fit in the landscape, then explore similar plants below for more ideas on form, texture, and overall planting style.

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Is Shenandoah Red Switch Grass a good fit for Kansas City landscapes?

That depends on sun exposure, moisture, spacing, and how the plant will be used in the overall design. Bold Outdoors evaluates those practical conditions before recommending a plant broadly.

How should homeowners use this plant information?

Use the plant profile as a planning tool for size, conditions, and visual role, then connect it to the broader landscape design and installation plan for the property.

Next Step

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