Review: Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’
Pronunciation // I’d planted and marveled at Panicums before, and when I heard the fuss over ‘Shenandoah’ in early 2009, I couldn’t help but get caught up in it. A red Panicum! What more could we ask? It was the answer to everyone’s prayers and the cure for cancer, and it smelled like bacon frying.
I jump too quickly to sarcasm… ‘Shenandoah’ is, in fact, a lovely grass, and I have every reason to suspect, in fact, that under the right circumstances it IS The Red Grass Magic Bullet, the native answer to aggressive Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron.’ I just haven’t figured out what those circumstances are, or whether my ‘Shenandoahs’ are duds. (See photos below to compare.)
Make no mistake, my Panicum ‘Shenandoah’ is beautiful. Gallon pots grew quickly and produced substantial clumps the first season, and they bloomed their heads off — a plus I hadn’t expected. The only problem is the foliage: green, green, green, no red to be seen. Could it be exposure, drainage, soil pH? (Full sun, well-drained, a bit acidic, respectively.) I’m not sure, but here’s my best guess: according to a veteran gardener friend who planted ‘Shenandoah’ en masse a few years ago, the red plants breed but produce plain green offspring. I think that’s what the nursery where I got mine was selling, albeit unwittingly.
We all know 2009 was a weird year here in New England. It rained half the summer, causing 100-year outbreaks of pests and fungi and bumper crops of acorns. It was not the year for warm-season grasses. As such, I’m going to see what Panicum ‘Shenandoah’ does next year, but just in case, I’m going to do that in a spot where I don’t need an impactful red.
Lowdown:
- COLOR, COLOR, COLOR: Plant it yourself and be the judge! ‘Shenandoah’ is supposed to have red streaks much of the season, more in fall. Clearly this wasn’t my experience. If I were you, given the risk of inferior cultivars, I’d only buy it if I could see red coloring at the time of purchase. If you think I’m doing something wrong and there’s still hope for mine, I’d love to hear so I can fix it. The flowerheads when it blooms, regardless, are frothily delicious.
- LIGHT: Panicums are adaptable, but these grasses like warmth, and thus are generally more dense, upright and attractive the more sun you give them.
- WATER: Established Panicums are drought-tolerant plants.
- NATIVE: Panicums, including ‘Shenandoah’s’ parents, are U.S. natives.
- LOW-MAINTENANCE: Post-frost, cut down dead growth before new emerges in spring. That’s it!
- FAMILY TREE: Panicum is a member of the grass family, Poaceae, which includes the turf you may grow as your lawn as well as things to eat, like barley, oats, rye, wheat, sugarcane, and one particularly fancy grass we like to call corn (Zea mays).
- Posted by AK on 2010 Feb 01 at 1314
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I am wishing that one was happy in my state. I have tried and tried Panicums to no avail. Warm season grasses just aren’t happy in my cold summer town. Too bad for me! The whole seedling business reminded me of when I found a blue fescue labeled Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ that was emerald green. I laughed (and then bought it).
Christine in Alaska
Hi Christine: Thanks for commenting! Ah yes, the age-old condition of zonal envy… Would we truly be gardeners without it? I imagine warm-season grasses must be difficult in Alaska, though I have to say I’m fascinated with the thought of gardening there. My own property has warm and cool microclimates that differ so drastically that it’s pretty much fruitless (pardon the pun) to try to grow anything that needs heat to thrive in much of my backyard.
That’s very disappointing . I think Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’ rocks…But it’s not the red you’re looking for! It has the most delicious color in the fall and does not look shabby in the winter. Again…it’s not red! On the other hand~~Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron appears to not like my garden! Instead I go for the annual Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’. gail
@Gail: Thanks for commenting! ‘Northwind’ DOES rock, and ‘Dallas Blues’ is one of my favorite plants. Like ‘Heavy Metal’ too. There are a couple of newer red cultivars out there like ‘Prairie Fire’ and ‘Ruby Ribbons’ I haven’t tried, but it’s funny you mention Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’ — I’m planning using that this year myself! The supposed ‘Shenandoahs’ are getting divided up and going in the backyard where I need meadowy filler, so they’ll still have a home.
There are many plants, grasses included, I have yet to see look in my garden as they appear in print. Your new blog is fantastic, btw. You are smart, funny, cutting-edge, and a riot. I wish you much success!
@Stephanie: Thank you, I’m so glad! I hear you… I really think this particular one is a case of mistaken identity. Luckily I love the nursery where I got them more than life, and I’ve never had anything else but fantastic luck with them, so I can live with it.
I had the same experience with Shenandoah that I bought for a client as well as my own garden. I have not really seen ANY red tint in the foliage or seeds. I talked to the nursery and they thought the plants had been mislabelled but I am thinking that you are right, they were simply offspring that reverted to green. It’s a problem with cultivars that are marketed quickly….
But I do love ‘em for their billowy effect in a meadow garden and the birds seem to like their seeds, so they’re stayin’!
Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’ is what I use for red grasses (although it’s an annual here), as well as Purple Majesty Ornamental Millet which is not really red but more of a dark brown, but very striking and popular with the birds. My dogs like to eat them as seedlings though so I never seem to get many to grow to maturity though! :-(
Love your blog!
@Ellen: Thank you on the blog, and I’m so glad I’m not the only one re: ‘Shenandoah’! Yes, I totally agree on the billowy effect of these, they’re worth it just for the seedheads. I’ve wanted to grow ‘Purple Majesty’ millet, but haven’t gotten around to it.
That aside, I hope I can catch up with you today!