Bitter switchgrass is a warm-season ornamental perennial beach grass in the Poaceae family. It is native to sandy dunes and shores in coastal areas from Connecticut to Florida to Texas. Var. amarulum can be found in the same areas, as well as sandflats and sandhills Bitter switchgrass prefers well-drained, dry to medium moisture soils, performing well even in infertile sandy loams. It is salt-tolerant, low-maintenance and spreads by rhizomes. Cut it back to the ground in late winter to early spring to maintain an attractive shape. Propagation is by seed or division. The tall, narrow cluster has pinkish flowers that wave over the leaves. The blue-green leaves are erect to arching and up to 20 inches long. Bitter switchgrass is used as a dune stabilizer along the southern NC coast. It can be used in rain gardens and the border of native gardens or in naturalized areas. It will help prevent erosion in difficult areas. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Too much organic material added to the soil can cause it to flop over. It tolerates light shade, but begins to lose form in too much shade, growing more openly and possibly falling over.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Sand
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping; Dense
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The bluish- green leaves grow erect to arching over and 7 yo 20 inches long and 1/4 to 1/2 inches wide.
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers bloom July-November. The narrow panicle is up to 2.5 feet long and 6 inches wide with small pinkish flowers
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Fruit detail
Fruits are available from August to December. Beige seedheads persist into winter
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Native to North America, Mexico
Distribution
AL , CT , DE , FL , GA , LA , MA , MD , MS , NC , NJ , NM , NY , PA , RI , SC , TX , VA , WV
Wildlife value
This is a larval host plant for various Skipper butterflies and the Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) which have one brood from late May to October. Adult Common Wood-Nymph butterflies feed on rotting fruit and flower nectar.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Host plant for
various Skipper butterflies and the Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) which have one brood from late May to October