How to Grow Beaked Panicgrass

Overview

Once a staple on the American prairie, panicgrass is now becoming a staple of ornamental grasses in landscaping. Beaked panicgrass, a member of the panicum family, is prized for its 4-foot tall height, wide blades and attractive drooping seed heads. The blades remain green year-round, it flowers in summer and it produces seed in autumn, supplying feed to wintering birds as well as interest to the winter landscape. A self-seeding and a rhizome-growing perennial, panicgrass returns year after year with minimal maintenance.

Step 1

Sow seeds in fall or early winter while the ground is still thawed enough to work. Sow rhizomes from December into April.

Step 2

Choose a partially shaded planting area with moist soil such as near a marsh, near drainage areas or close to water features. Panicgrass is well suited as an erosion control method in your landscaping.

Step 3

Space rhizomes three feet apart or sow five to ten seeds every three feet. Not all seeds will germinate so oversowing of seeds is recommended.

Step 4

Sow seeds on the soil surface and cover with 1/4-inch of soil. Plant rhizomes so the top is just below the soil surface.

Step 5

Keep soil moist during periods of drought; otherwise natural rainfall and soil moisture is sufficient. Minimal overwatering will not harm panicgrass.