The 2014 Perennial Plant of the Year has been announced – Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’!

The third ornamental grass to have held this honor (Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ in 2001 and Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ in 2009), Northwind is a warm-season perennial grass (known as switchgrass) with very straight blue-green foliage.  A slow-growing, clumping grass, Northwind will reach a height of 5 feet, with finely textured flower panicles reaching up to 7 feet high. 

In the fall, the leaves turn a warm, golden-yellow shade.

Easy to grow, Northwind enjoys bright sun or light shade, is drought tolerant, not appealing to deer and has no serious disease or insect problems. 

Guess I need to find a new spot to dig up!

The pictures below show Northwind throughout the seasons.