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Panicgrasses (Panicum)
Panicgrasses are large, robust grasses naturally found in many warm, tropical regions of the world. Their name originates from their dense flower clusters called "panicles"; the Latin word "panus" means "the grain millet." Some species are economically important as crops, forage plants, and in horticulture as decorative grasses.
Lifespan
Annual, Perennial
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
Key Facts About Panicgrasses
Feedback
Attributes of Panicgrasses
Leaf type
Semi-evergreen
Scientific Classification of Panicgrasses
Distribution of Panicgrasses
Feedback
Distribution Map of Panicgrasses
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Panicgrasses
Feedback
Panicgrasses is a widely adaptable group of grasses that generally require full sun and well-draining soil. Basic care includes moderate watering with reduced frequency during dormancy. They are hardy across various temperature ranges but prefer warmth. Common challenges include pests like aphids and issues like rust or blight. Seasonally, panicgrasses benefits from protection against cold in winter and may require increased irrigation in summer. Spring and autumn involve routine maintenance such as dividing or cutting back as needed.
Exploring the Panicgrasses Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Deertongue grass
Deertongue grass (Panicum clandestinum) is a perennial grass that grows from 61 to 122 cm tall. It blooms in spring to summer, but flowers are very small and not visible to the naked eye. It is a self-pollinator, and birds are attracted to it for its seeds. It prefers full sun and moist soil.
Switchgrass
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a flowering perennial grass native to North America. Planting switchgrass is becoming more popular recently because the plant can sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and contribute to preventing further global warming. In addition, switchgrass can be used in industrial contexts to produce chemicals like ethanol and butanol.
Guinea grass
Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) may look like useless grass; however, it can be harvested and transformed into much greater things. In areas of the tropics, it is converted into a fuel that creates alcohol used for fueling engines. Dried, the blades can be bound together to make brooms, used as material for basket weaving, and as hay for livestock.
Fall panicgrass
This tuft-forming fall panicgrass grows in disturbed habitats and sunny, open areas that have rich, slightly moist soils, and Panicum dichotomiflorum attracts various butterflies. It's an important source of food for many birds.
Witchgrass
Witchgrass (Panicum capillare) has clusters of flowers that separate from the rest of the plant and roll, tumbleweed-like, across the earth. This is the unique way this plant disperses its seeds. Witchgrass is known as a “panic grass,” which means that it removes CO2 from the air much more effectively than other plants. This also means that it will grow faster and produce more than other species.
Proso millet
Proso millet (*Panicum miliaceum*) is a fast-growing grass cultivated around the world for its grain. It blooms from summer to fall, followed by seed production with a seed replacing each floret of the blossom. It grows in full sun with moist to dry soil conditions and attracts beetles, grasshoppers, aphids and moths.
Velvet Panicum
A species of grass, velvet Panicum is native to the southeastern United States. This perennial grass is a source of grazing for both livestock and wildlife. It bears a small flower that does not open but pollinates itself.
Fewanther Obscuregrass
Fewanther Obscuregrass (Panicum oligosanthes) is a plant species native to North America. Fewanther Obscuregrass is also known as Dichanthelium oligosanthes. This species grows in woods, recently cut forests, and grassy banks.
All Species of Panicgrasses
Deertongue grass
Deertongue grass
Deertongue grass (Panicum clandestinum) is a perennial grass that grows from 61 to 122 cm tall. It blooms in spring to summer, but flowers are very small and not visible to the naked eye. It is a self-pollinator, and birds are attracted to it for its seeds. It prefers full sun and moist soil.
Switchgrass
Switchgrass
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a flowering perennial grass native to North America. Planting switchgrass is becoming more popular recently because the plant can sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and contribute to preventing further global warming. In addition, switchgrass can be used in industrial contexts to produce chemicals like ethanol and butanol.
Guinea grass
Guinea grass
Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) may look like useless grass; however, it can be harvested and transformed into much greater things. In areas of the tropics, it is converted into a fuel that creates alcohol used for fueling engines. Dried, the blades can be bound together to make brooms, used as material for basket weaving, and as hay for livestock.
Fall panicgrass
Fall panicgrass
This tuft-forming fall panicgrass grows in disturbed habitats and sunny, open areas that have rich, slightly moist soils, and Panicum dichotomiflorum attracts various butterflies. It's an important source of food for many birds.
Witchgrass
Witchgrass
Witchgrass (Panicum capillare) has clusters of flowers that separate from the rest of the plant and roll, tumbleweed-like, across the earth. This is the unique way this plant disperses its seeds. Witchgrass is known as a “panic grass,” which means that it removes CO2 from the air much more effectively than other plants. This also means that it will grow faster and produce more than other species.
Proso millet
Proso millet
Proso millet (*Panicum miliaceum*) is a fast-growing grass cultivated around the world for its grain. It blooms from summer to fall, followed by seed production with a seed replacing each floret of the blossom. It grows in full sun with moist to dry soil conditions and attracts beetles, grasshoppers, aphids and moths.
Velvet Panicum
Velvet Panicum
A species of grass, velvet Panicum is native to the southeastern United States. This perennial grass is a source of grazing for both livestock and wildlife. It bears a small flower that does not open but pollinates itself.
Fewanther Obscuregrass
Fewanther Obscuregrass
Fewanther Obscuregrass (Panicum oligosanthes) is a plant species native to North America. Fewanther Obscuregrass is also known as Dichanthelium oligosanthes. This species grows in woods, recently cut forests, and grassy banks.
Quack grass
Quack grass
Other names for quack grass (Panicum repens) include creeping panic, panic rampant, wainaku grass, and torpedograss. Some people call it the worst weed ever to be unleashed upon the planet. It made its way to the United States in ships’ ballast water and as a forage crop for cattle. It aggressively forces out native species wherever it goes.
Bitter panicgrass
Bitter panicgrass
Bitter panicgrass belongs to the grass family. It clumps and spreads by specialized stems and mostly inhabits coastal beaches and dunes. Bitter panicgrass is a good soil erosion control and stabilizer of degraded land areas. This grass is an 'endangered plant' in Connecticut and Rhode Island, United States.
Black-seeded panic
Black-seeded panic
Black-seeded panic is a tropical grass species known for its slender stems and elongated leaves, often thriving in open, sunny habitats. Adaptive to a variety of soils, it exhibits resilience in both dry and moist conditions. The plant is distinguished by its bilateral spikelets forming a distinctive V-shaped arrangement, lending itself as a vital grazing resource and erosion control agent in its native environment.
Desert panicgrass
Desert panicgrass
Desert panicgrass is a perennial grass species with a creeping rhizome that helps it survive and reproduce in harsh conditions. Adapted to growing in sand dunes and dry, sandy soil, it grows at low to medium altitudes in deserts and badlands.
Switchgrass 'Northwind'
Switchgrass 'Northwind'
Switchgrass 'Northwind' is a type of switchgrass which has been bred for its height and its blue-olive coloring. The name was given to it by its creator, Northwind Perennial Farm. Its height of 1.2 to 1.5 m makes this grass ideal for screening. In fall, the foliage turns an attractive yellow-green.
Switchgrass 'Heavy Metal'
Switchgrass 'Heavy Metal'
The switchgrass 'Heavy Metal' is a species of grass. It gets its name from the metallic blue coloration of its newly-grown blades. Later in the summertime, the blue blades turn to a shade of pink, and then later to orange in the fall. This perennial grass is described as having a fine consistency.
Switchgrass 'Shenandoah'
Switchgrass 'Shenandoah'
Switchgrass 'Shenandoah' has been bred and named for its vivid red coloring, which makes it an unusual switchgrass cultivar. It is smaller and grows less aggressively than many other switchgrasses, reaching a full height of only 61 to 91 cm, so it is popular in smaller gardens. It is low-maintenance and quite pest- and disease-resistant.
Switchgrass 'Cloud Nine'
Switchgrass 'Cloud Nine'
Switchgrass 'Cloud Nine' is notable for its height, growing up to 2 m tall. It is thus the tallest cultivar of switchgrass. A cultivar of Panicum virgatum, its name alludes to the phrase “on cloud nine,” referring to its great height. Gardeners appreciate this plant because it requires little attention and is tolerant of most common plant troubles.
More Popular Genus
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Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Panicgrasses
Panicum
Panicgrasses are large, robust grasses naturally found in many warm, tropical regions of the world. Their name originates from their dense flower clusters called "panicles"; the Latin word "panus" means "the grain millet." Some species are economically important as crops, forage plants, and in horticulture as decorative grasses.
Lifespan
Annual, Perennial
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
Key Facts About Panicgrasses
Feedback
Attributes of Panicgrasses
Leaf type
Semi-evergreen
Scientific Classification of Panicgrasses
Distribution of Panicgrasses
Feedback
Distribution Map of Panicgrasses
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Panicgrasses
Feedback
Panicgrasses is a widely adaptable group of grasses that generally require full sun and well-draining soil. Basic care includes moderate watering with reduced frequency during dormancy. They are hardy across various temperature ranges but prefer warmth. Common challenges include pests like aphids and issues like rust or blight. Seasonally, panicgrasses benefits from protection against cold in winter and may require increased irrigation in summer. Spring and autumn involve routine maintenance such as dividing or cutting back as needed.
Exploring the Panicgrasses Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Deertongue grass
Deertongue grass (Panicum clandestinum) is a perennial grass that grows from 61 to 122 cm tall. It blooms in spring to summer, but flowers are very small and not visible to the naked eye. It is a self-pollinator, and birds are attracted to it for its seeds. It prefers full sun and moist soil.
Switchgrass
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a flowering perennial grass native to North America. Planting switchgrass is becoming more popular recently because the plant can sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and contribute to preventing further global warming. In addition, switchgrass can be used in industrial contexts to produce chemicals like ethanol and butanol.
Guinea grass
Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) may look like useless grass; however, it can be harvested and transformed into much greater things. In areas of the tropics, it is converted into a fuel that creates alcohol used for fueling engines. Dried, the blades can be bound together to make brooms, used as material for basket weaving, and as hay for livestock.
Fall panicgrass
This tuft-forming fall panicgrass grows in disturbed habitats and sunny, open areas that have rich, slightly moist soils, and Panicum dichotomiflorum attracts various butterflies. It's an important source of food for many birds.
Show More Species
All Species of Panicgrasses
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
