Cheyenne Sky Switch Grass: Wine-Red Blades Behind the Lavender

Cheyenne Sky red switch grass is a compact, very upright grass that changes color as the season goes. Its narrow blades emerge blue-green, start turning deep wine red from the tips down in early summer, earlier than most red switch grasses, and by late summer the clump is almost entirely burgundy. In August, matching wine-red flower sprays lift it to about three feet.

It is a hardy perennial way to get the look of annual purple fountain grass, and it loves full sun as much as your lavender does.

Cheyenne Sky at a glance

Why it suits a lavender planting

Lavender is soft, round and silver. Cheyenne Sky is slim, vertical and wine red. Set a few clumps behind a lavender row and the contrast does the work: the silver mounds look brighter against the burgundy, and the purple spikes pick up the red tones. The grass keeps its color long after the lavender is harvested, then holds its tan seed heads into winter.

Its slim, vase-shaped clump stays only about 18 inches wide, so it will not swamp the lavender. In a lavender bed, give it the same dry, sunny ground; it is happy there. Sketch the layout in the Companion Plant Planner.

Planting and care

• Soil: almost any, from sand to clay. It handles dry spells and wetter spots, which makes it flexible across a property.
• Water: regular the first season, then little extra.
• Spring patience: as a warm-season grass, it starts growing late and puts on most of its growth from early summer on.
• Disease: rust is the main issue in muggy summers. Good airflow helps.
• Winter: very reliable in Michigan. Leave the clump standing for winter interest and bird cover, and cut it back to a few inches in early spring.

Containers, cutting and drying

Its compact size makes Cheyenne Sky a strong thriller for large containers, with a trailing plant at its feet. The wine-red flower sprays are good for cutting and drying; snip them in late summer and add them to dried lavender bundles for a fine, airy texture.

About the plug tray

Cheyenne Sky is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, a practical way to plant a row, a mass planting or a screen. See the product page for current availability, or visit the Wholesale Hub.

Frequently asked questions

When does it turn red?

Starting in early summer, from the leaf tips down. By late summer nearly the whole clump is burgundy.

Is it hardy, unlike purple fountain grass?

Yes. It is a perennial hardy in zones 4 to 9 and comes back reliably each spring.

Keep exploring

• Cheyenne Sky Red Switch Grass 72-Cell Plug Tray
• Companion Plant Library
• Companion Plant Planner
• Cut Flower Planner