Panicum 'Blood Brothers'

Panicum 'Blood Brothers': Blue Blades Dipped in Red

Blue-green all spring, then the tips start turning blood red like this grass just heard some juicy family gossip. 'Blood Brothers' gets more intense every week until fall. THE FEUD IS NOW SEASONAL.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Panicum virgatum 'Blood Brothers'
• Common Name: Switch Grass, Red Switch Grass
• Height: 120–150 cm (4–5 ft)
• Spread: 60–90 cm (2–3 ft)
• Flowers: Airy, reddish panicles that ripen to tan seed heads
• Bloom Time: Late summer to fall (August to October)
• Foliage: Blue-green blades with blood-red tips from midsummer, deepening through fall
• Features: Upright habit, winter interest

Where to Plant: Use it for height and colour in a sunny border, a prairie-style planting or a modern design. Its narrow, upright shape fits tighter spots, and a row makes a fine seasonal screen. It handles clay soil and dry summers.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Blood Brothers' at the back of a sunny, dry bed where its red-tipped blades rise over silver and pink. Sempervivum 'Silverine' tucks in at the front at about 10 cm with silvery rosettes. Artemisia 'Silver Mound' adds soft silver mounds at 25 to 30 cm. Achillea 'Strawberry Seduction' brings strawberry-red heads at 45 to 50 cm from June to September. Papaver 'Royal Wedding' opens white poppies with a black centre at 75 to 80 cm in May and June.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun for the best red colour. It grows in average, sandy or clay soil, and copes with dry to moist conditions. Water through the first season. After that, it rarely needs help. Leave the clump standing for winter interest. Cut it back to about 10 cm (4 in) in early spring, before new shoots appear. Switch grass is a warm-season grass and starts growing late in spring. Divide it in spring if the clump outgrows its space.

History: 'Blood Brothers' is a Canadian plant, found by Dale Smith near St. Thomas, Ontario, as a sport of the blue switch grass 'Heavy Metal'. Its species, Panicum virgatum, is native across much of North America, including the tallgrass prairies of southwestern Ontario.

Final Thoughts: Drought, deer, neglect? Not its problem. Plant a row along the driveway and let it stand guard all winter. LOYAL TO THE END.