‘Ruby Ribbons’ is a cultivar of Switchgrass noted for having blue-green foliage that matures by mid-season to an attractive purple-red. It is the result of a controlled cross between Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’ (female parent) and Panicum virgatum ‘Haense Herms’ (male parent). It has a compact form and vigorous growth habit.
Best grown in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soils. Salt tolerant and drought tolerant once established. Deer resistant. Tolerates occasional flooding. May flop in overly rich soils. Will grow in part shade, but begins to lose its form in too much shade, growing more openly and possibly falling over.
Height: 3′-4′ Spread: 2’-2.5’ Bloom: July-February Light: Full Sun-Part Shade Water: Low-High Zone: 4-9 Origin: Cultivar/Texas, much of North America
