Panicum virgatum 'Cape Breeze' (Switchgrass)

Panicum virgatum 'Cape Breeze,' commonly called 'Cape Breeze' switchgrass, is a short, dense cultivar of switchgrass, growing to only 2-3' tall, and is characterized by predominantly bright green foliage occasionally tinted with blues or reds. 'Cape Breeze' also produces showy plumes of soft blond-yellow flowers which eventually turn to brassy, beige tones in the cooler fall months. Tolerant to a wide variety of ecological factors and soil types, and with the added benefit of compact size, 'Cape Breeze' is a great choice for a variety of locations around the home.

'Panicum virgatum 'Cape Breeze' tolerates a wide range of moisture and soil types, including poor, sandy, or rocky soils, so long as the ground is well draining and it gets full sun. With compact, persistent behavior comes a ton of ecological benefit: seeds are an important food source to all sorts of birds and small mammals, and grass blades serve as food and host to a variety of important moths and butterflies, including the Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan) and Leonard's Skipper (Hesperia leonardus), both of which are endangered in Maryland.