Panicum virgatum ‘Heiligier Hain’

Switchgrass Poaceae

A wonderfully atmospheric Switch Grass with a rather more Germanic sense of drama than its American parentage might suggest. ‘Heiliger Hain’ forms dense, upright clumps of blue-green foliage, the narrow leaves becoming increasingly flushed with red, purple and maroon as summer gives way to autumn. Above them rise airy, open panicles of tiny purplish flowers, creating the characteristic smoky haze that makes Panicum so effective in late-season planting. A seedling of ‘Heavy Metal’, it was bred by Friedrich Camehl of Germany and introduced by Beate Zillmer of Zillmer Jungpflanzen in 2001. More compact and colourful than many forms of the species, it makes an excellent structural grass for prairie planting, gravel gardens and mixed borders. Tough, long-lived and drought tolerant once established, it copes with a wide range of soils provided they are reasonably well drained. The foliage remains remarkably architectural into winter.

Cultivar origin: Seedling of ‘Heavy Metal’, bred by Friedrich Camehl, Germany, and introduced by Beate Zillmer, Zillmer Jungpflanzen, in 2001.
Flowering: August–October
Hardiness: H5, approximately −15 to −10°C
Height: 100–150 cm
Spread: 60–100 cm