Alternate name: Wand Panic Grass

Family: Poaceae, Grass view all from this family

Description Grows in large clumps, with many persistent, curly leaves.
Flowers: tiny, lacking petals; stamens 3, rarely visible; styles 2, small, purple, feathery. Each flower enclosed in several scales, forming an ovate spikelet 1/12”—1/4” (2.8—6 mm) long. Flower cluster large, 2—18” (5—50 cm) long, loose and open, branches delicate, small flowers widely spaced.
Leaves: 4—25” (10—60 cm) long, numerous, curly.
Fruit: a small, hard grain.
Height: 3—6’ (1—2 m).

Flower July—September

Habitat Moist prairies, open ground, roadsides, upper edge of salt marshes.

Range Throughout the United States except for Pacific Coast states.

Discussion Switchgrass is one of the dominant species of the tallgrass prairie, but also grows as a weed along roadsides. The rich, yellow-colored clumps last throughout the winter.