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Panicum capillare

witch grass

Poaceae North America

Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Panicum capillare is a warm-season annual grass native to North America, growing 8–30 inches (20–75 cm) tall in tufts of branching, often sprawling stems. The leaf blades and sheaths are densely covered with soft spreading hairs, and the blades are 4–10 inches (10–25 cm) long. At maturity each stem produces a large, diffuse panicle up to half the height of the plant, with hair-thin branches carrying tiny single spikelets. As the seed ripens in late summer and autumn, the whole panicle dries, breaks away at the base, and tumbles in the wind, scattering seed as it rolls. P. capillare grows in fields, gardens, roadsides, sandbars, and disturbed open ground across most of North America. It establishes quickly on bare soil and self-seeds abundantly, behaving as a weed in cultivated ground, and the sprawling summer growth gives little structure in ornamental plantings.

Native Range

Panicum capillare is native to North America and grows across most of the United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. It occupies fields, roadsides, sandbars, gardens, and other disturbed open ground.

Suggested Uses

Used in naturalized and restoration plantings on disturbed or sandy ground, and as cover and seed for ground-feeding birds. Suited to open ground away from cultivated beds, where its heavy self-seeding makes it weedy.

How to Identify

Identify P. capillare by its hairy leaf blades and sheaths and the very large, open panicle of hair-thin branches that can make up half the plant. The tiny single spikelets sit at the branch tips, and mature panicles break off and tumble in the wind. The dense soft hairs separate it from the smoother Panicum spp. species.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 2'6"

Width/Spread8" - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Summer Fall

As a grass, P. capillare produces no showy flowers. The wind-pollinated spikelets mature on the open panicle from July to October. The dried seed head then breaks free and tumbles, dispersing seed across open ground.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

greenish to purple-tinged spikelets

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

P. capillare grows in full sun in dry to moderately moist soil and tolerates sand, gravel, and disturbed ground of low fertility. Soil pH from 5.5 to 7.5 is suitable. It germinates readily on bare soil in warm weather and completes its cycle in one season. The grass self-seeds heavily and can spread into cultivated beds, where it is treated as a weed. It withstands heat and short drought once established. Little care is needed where it is wanted.

Pruning

Cutting or mowing the seed heads before they ripen limits self-sowing and tumbling dispersal. As an annual, the plant dies after seeding and can be pulled or cleared in autumn. No other pruning is needed.