Miscanthus (arranged by height)
by Rommy Lopat

ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED: 1998 Spring

TWG Editor: Miscanthus is a warm-season grass, which takes about 3 years to look mature. It may thrive for decades or get hit hard by cold and clay. Despite improved cultivars, Miscanthus is still for the adventuresome Midwest gardener. The late-blooming (October) varieties may never get a chance to bloom in the Midwest's cold, but earlier bloomers may re-seed: double-edged sword! Make sure you plant in spring, so that the roots develop before frost. Mulch around them with 4-6" of chips over winter! Gerry Kopf advises that Miscanthus and other exotic grasses fail in heavy clay because there isn't enough oxygen exchange in the soil. Grasses in containers should be grown in a heavy soil mix so that the fibrous roots will adapt faster. If you absolutely must plant in fall, make sure you buy a 2-3 gallon container only. Since they do not like disturbance, divide by taking wedge-shaped sections from the outer edge, and divide only after green growth begins in May or June. By the way, don't underestimate their size--give them room! This list may not be totally accurate: we're in new territory, but we erred toward conservatism regarding hardiness.

Miscanthus sinensis: Short Varieties (1-3')

ÔLittle Kitten': It's only a foot tall! Brand new, this one is silvery-green and will probably start showing up everywhere. ÔAdagio': 3' silver-gray foliage with buff October flowers. Mulch! ÔBurgundy': 2-4'; New. It has pink flowers in Sept-Oct, red fall foliage. ÔLittle Fountain' (fountain-like shape) and ÔLittle Silver Spider' (upright) are both 3-4'. September bloomers with promise. ÔNippon': severe self-seeder in Zone 5-6. ÔYaku Jima': Not hardy. Use ÔAdagio' instead, but mulch. ÔNana' is a dwarf (3-4') ÔGracillimus'-type. ÔDixieland' (3-4') is promising--has vertical leaf variegation--but mulch it!

Miscanthus: Medium Varieties (4-6')

4-5': ÔBitsy Ben': This is a short variety discovered at Zone 4b Bald Eagle Nursery. It has very showy silver flowers that start blooming in early August but last into December. ÔFerner Osten': Dark green foliage with silver midrib. Bushy red plumes with white tips in September. Mulch! ÔArabesque' is not hardy in Zone 4b. ÔKirk Alexander': see ÔPunktchen' below. ÔMorning Light' has white-edged foliage (barely variegated) and a ÔGracillimus' stature. Mulch!

5-6': ÔGold and Silver' has gold flowers in September, turning silver. Slender growth habit. ÔGold Feather' has golden variegated leaves and is a slow grower. M. purpurescens (note name change): The upright foliage turns red quickly in cool snap and purple by fall. Silvery-pink flowers in early August. Very hardy. Big sweep of these is great. ÔRed Arrow' is called by Kurt Bluemel, "truly a great Miscathus with the best red fall color to date". Does anyone agree? ÔKaskade': Silver-green foliage turning purple/burgundy in cool weather. Silver plumes in early September. Mulch it! ÔSirene' is a big hit with customers: reddish leaves after September flowers. ÔSarabande' is hardy, usu. called the early-blooming ÔGracillimus'.

Miscanthus: Medium Tall Varieties (6-8')

ÔGracillimus': 6-7'. The early classic, once called Maiden Grass. Its dark green foliage makes it look great next to variegated Miscanthus. The flowers often get cut short by frost in October. Mulch it well, or use ÔGraziella' (6'; September) instead. It is one of the best for silver inflorescences.

ÔStrictus': Easily confused with ÔZebrinus' because it also has horizontal bands of yellow on the leaves. Both are 6-7' x 6', yellow horizontal bands on upright foliage, want moist soil and can be in water 2-4" deep. Both can take part shade. Often called Porcupine grass, ÔStrictus' is hardier, more erect, better behaved, less spreading than ÔZebrinus' [Zebra Grass]. Both may be replaced by ÔPunktchen' (6') ["little dot"], which has nice contrast of striped foliage and September flower heads, erect growth, and reliable flowering, although ÔKirk Alexander' (5-6'), but jury's out on hardiness.

ÔVariegatus' (6'): variegated foliage, may require staking because it may get floppy as it matures. Tolerates some shade. Great for contrast against other cultivars. Buff flowers in late September. Divide every 3 years. ÔWetterfahne' (6'x6'): The large silver plumes are said to turn into billowy clouds in early September, making for a great specimen. ÔLittle Big Man': See M. giganteus. ÔMalepartus' (6') is noted for its red color, later turns silvery. Looks great with ÔVariegatus'. (Other August red flowers include: ÔJuly', ÔRotfeder', ÔRotsilber'). ÔBlondo': 6-7', coarse yellow-green foliage, creamy white flowers in October. ÔNovember Sunset' (6') has October 1st flowers and yellow-orange fall foliage. ÔPositano' (6-7'): Arching foliage with red flowers in September. Good for hedge. ÔUndine' (7') has a better growth habit; blooms silver in early September. ÔGrosse Fontaine' (7-8') has an erect habit, blooms in September. Good for hedge. Mulch! ÔAndante': 7-8'. Bluemel's catalog says this is the best specimen Miscanthus. Pink flowers turn silver. ÔBluetenwunder' (7'; Sept), is a terrible self-seeder. ÔRoland' (7') blooms buff in September. Somewhat coarse, but reliable.

Miscanthus: Tall Varieties (8' and over)

ÔSilver Feather' (7-8' x 10-12'): This is the hardiest Miscanthus, surviving in Zone 3 near Minneapolis. Silver mid-rib arching leaves, with large, silvery flowers in early September. Looks great against sunlight. ÔAutumn Light' (7-8') is hardy, blooms buff in October. ÔGoliath': extra large pink bloom in September. Very rigid, dark green foliage.

Silver Banner Grass [M. sacchariflorus]: 7-8'. Sometimes sold as Pampas Grass. Buyer beware: it's too invasive. As opposed to Miscanthus sinensis which stays in a clump, this grass has rhizomes that may grow 6" in one season. Outlaw it!

Giant Chinese Silver Grass [M. giganteus (floridulus)]: 10-12', looks like bamboo, reddish tan tassles in October. Huge! Colonizes, but is not super aggressive. If you want a shorter (6') version, I've read that ÔLittle Big Man' is a red-stemmed substitute with jade green leaves and silvery white plumes, but haven't seen it.

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