Switch grass at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR

NATIVE GRASSES ~ SWITCH GRASS Panicum virgatum

image of Switchgrass Switchgrass is a warm season perennial, sod forming grass dominantly found in lowlands.

Identifiable characteristic is a simplified “V-shaped” patch of waxy hairs on the upper surface of the leaf blade near the stem.
The inflorescence (flowering part of the plant) is a panicle (a branched inflorescence with flowers maturing from bottom upwards), giving rise to the name Panicum virgatum.
The green stalks of Switchgrass is consumed by livestock for food.
Switchgrass gives an excellent quality for hay production.

It also serves as an excellent cover for nesting birds and some seed consumption for small mammals and birds.

For a complete Refuge species list

For in-depth plant information
connect with the U.S. Dept Agriculture Plant Data Base

Last Updated: 1/14/09

REFUGE HABITAT

Plants that grow naturally on this short grass prairie are called "native" plants. The Refuge has four major groups.

Vegetation on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal is a mixture of different grasses, shrubs. semi-shrubs, forbes and wildflowers.

Several species of prairie grass grow on the Refuge but the most common are the perennial BLUE GRAMA and WESTERN WHEAT GRASS.

Learn more about prairie grasses at
FRONT RANGE LIVING.