Blue Panic Grass Plant Care
Panicum coloratum L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Panicum coloratum is a species of grass known by the common names kleingrass, blue panicgrass (USA), white buffalograss ; Bambatsi panic, makarikari grass, and coolah grass (Australia). It is native to Africa, and it has been introduced elsewhere, such as the United States and Australia, and bred into many cultivars.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun
60–85°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Blue Panic Grass?
Water Blue Panic Grass every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun. It prefers temperatures of 60–85°F (16–29°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 8 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Blue Panic Grass Native To?
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Is the Blue Panic Grass?
Blue Panic Grass (Panicum coloratum) belongs to the Poaceae family within the Panicum genus. Blue Panic Grass is native to Africa, and it has been introduced else. Blue Panic Grass is also known as Makari Grass, Blue Buffalo Grass.
Blue Panic Grass displays a tall, upright grass growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Blue Panic Grass produces feathery panicles of tiny flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Blue Panic Grass?
Panicum coloratum requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Blue Panic Grass Need?
Blue Panic Grass thrives in full sun.
Light Requirement
Full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Blue Panic Grass Prefer?
Panicum coloratum grows best at temperatures of 60–85°F. Blue Panic Grass prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
60–85°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Blue Panic Grass?
Well-draining loamy soil with good fertility. Good drainage is essential for Blue Panic Grass to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Blue Panic Grass?
Feed Blue Panic Grass every 8 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 8 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Blue Panic Grass?
Divide clumps every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Blue Panic Grass?
Blue Panic Grass can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to panicum lycopodioides plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Blue Panic Grass Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Blue Panic Grass, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Blue Panic Grass?
Blue Panic Grass is susceptible to grasshoppers, cutworms, armyworms. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Blue Panic Grass Need?
Blue Panic Grass grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Blue Panic Grass is native to Africa, and it has been introduced else. In cooler regions, grow Blue Panic Grass as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Blue Panic Grass is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Panicum genus — compare its care with other Panicum species on PlantoScan.
Panicum is part of the Poaceae plant family — browse all Poaceae genera and species.
Blue Panic Grass thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Panicum Species
Other Panicum species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Panicum coloratum L., family Poaceae (first published in Mant. Pl. 1: 30 (1767)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Blue Panic Grass, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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