Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum — native to 24 states. wild-form packet exists (CT/OH/PA); TX hit is cultivar 'Sunburst'

24States where native

SeedSold as

16 Sep 2026Listing verified

Quick answer: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is native to 24 states. What's commonly sold under this name is often a bred variety or the wrong species — see the lookalike alert below. It's typically seed, verified 16 Sep 2026.

Where it's native

Listed in the register as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.

Alabama Colorado Connecticut Florida Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Dakota Texas Wisconsin Wyoming

Growing conditions

From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.

Sun	Sun, Part Shade
Water	Medium water, Dry-Moist
Soil	Sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay, limestone-based soils
Bloom	Bloom Aug-Nov
Height	Up to 10 ft, often shorter
Wildlife value	Seeds eaten by songbirds and gamebirds, cover and nesting material, larval host for Delaware Skipper, high deer resistance

Lookalike alert

Watch out

Wild-form packet exists (CT/OH/PA); TX hit is cultivar 'Sunburst'.

Sold as: Seed via Amazon · listing verified 16 Sep 2026

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Also listed under

Native plants for birds Butterfly and moth host plants Deer-resistant native plants Drought-tolerant native plants Lookalike alerts — plants sold under the wrong name Native plants for pollinators Native plants for shade

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