Panicum virgatum Dream Catcher®​ Misty Blue®​ (`Noneulbyt’)​

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS:  Panicum virgatum Dream Catcher®​ Misty Blue®​ is a medium sized switch grass cultivar that is known for its dynamic changing color throughout the season and upright habit.  Misty Blue has powdery gray-blue cascading foliage early to mid season, changing to jade green as rose flower panicles form in later summer.  Finally, with the onset of cold temperatures, the foliage turns red, which fades to a golden tan through the winter.   This rugged switch grass is drought and deer tolerant, making it a good candidate as a hedge or border.

HABITAT & HARDINESS:  The parent species Panicum virgatum ranges through most of the southern Canadian provinces and the contiguous United States.  The species is indigenous to prairies, savannas, glades, rocky bluffs, stream banks, open woods, sand dunes, marsh borders, roadsides, ditches and fields.

Michigan Plant Breeder, Dave Mackenzie, developed this grass at Hortech, Inc. in Nunica, MI.

Panicum virgatum Dream Catcher®​ Misty Blue® is a robust medium-tall selection, similar in stature to Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’ but more slender. And, as such is a great specimen, hedge and accent plant. Named for its early to mid-season powdery-blue cascading foliage, Misty Blue® is a dynamic plant… its color changes to jade-green with the appearance of amber-rose flower panicles in late summer. Then, during late fall, it transitions to red before winter’s cold turns it to tan. Misty Blue™ is a sturdy non flopping selection that pairs with larger perennials–as described on website of Hortech.com .

Panicum virgatum is hardy from USDA Zones 4-9.

PLANT DESCRIPTION:  Panicum virgatum ‘Dream Catcher®​ Misty Blue®​’  is a sturdy medium sized, slender switch grass cultivar with multiple seasons of interest.  If you are looking for a native substitute for Miscanthus, ‘Misty Blue’ is a great alternative.

CULTURAL & MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Panicum virgatum ‘Dream Catcher®​ Misty Blue®’​  prospers in sunny sites with average to moist soil.

Plants tolerate drought, salt and clay, sandy or infertile soils. Stems are sturdy and usually remain upright without staking even in windy coastal sites.

Plants are unpalatable to deer and other herbivores.

The only maintenance needed is to cut or burn this grass to the ground in late winter.

LANDSCAPE USES:    Perennial Borders, Coastal Gardens. Roadsides or Urban Meadows. Plants provide Erosion Control, Winter Interest, Showy Blooms and Attractive Seed heads and are appropriate for Containers, Cottage Gardens, Low Maintenance Plantings, Rain Gardens and Water Wise Landscapes.

COMPANION & UNDERSTUDY PLANTS:   Try pairing Panicum virgatum ‘Misty Blue’ with Aster laevis ‘Bluebird’, Callirhoe involucrata, Echinacea purpurea, Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida, Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’ or Sisyrinchium angusitfolium ‘Lucerne’.

If a substitute is needed, try Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’.