BOTANICAL: Miscanthus sinensis

PRONOUNCED: miss-KANTH-us sye-NEN-sis

COMMON: Japanese silvergrass SEEDHEADS LIGHT ZONE Fall Full sun to light shade 5 - 9 SIZE: 6 ft. - 8 ft. x equal to greater spread. TYPE: Ornamental grass SOIL: Suited to dry or moist conditions. COMMENTS: Miscanthus sinensis is possibly the most hybridized of all ornamental grasses. Expansive and can become invasive, according to the experiences of my local ornamental grass expert. It also reseeds with unreliable results, although some have had good results with 'Cabaret' which sports green margins and stripes to a white leaf. The sturdy, stiffly erect stems carry narrow, flat leaves. Terminal, recurved flower plumes endure attractively throughout the winter and make good indoor decoration when cut and dried by late fall. Miscanthus can be a useful seasonal screen when planted several plants deep. Propagation is better by division than by seed. Some popular cultivars: M. sinensis 'Zebrinus', Zebra Grass, 4 ft. - 5 ft. x same+. Shown left. Clump-forming perennial grass. Leaves have white and pale yellow horizontal bands. Silky gray flowerheads in the fall. M. sinensis 'Cosmopolitan', 6 ft. One of the best variegated miscanthus. It has a wider leaf than most and very wide vertical white striping throughout the leaf. The growth habit is similar to M. 'Cabaret', being non-floppy, and quite different from the other Miscanthus sinensis types M. sinensis 'Gracillimus', 5 ft. - 6 ft., 'Maiden grass'. This graceful, fine-textured grass is upright and arching. The fall leaves are a buff-colored with curled tips, and the long bronze feathery plumes to 7 ft. are borne in the fall. M. sinensis 'Silberfeder', 'Silverfeather, 5 ft. - 6 ft. x equal spread. It develops excellent silvery plumes in early fall, becoming pale pinkish-brown, and lasting well into the winter. M. sinensis 'Malepartus', 5 ft. - 7 ft. x equal spread. The broad leaves attain a purplish flush by fall. The flowers opening purple-red, become silver from late summer and reaching to 7 ft. tall. M. sinensis 'Variegatus', 'Variegated eulalia', 'Variegated silver grass', 4 ft .- 6 ft. x same. The dark green leaves of this grass are dramatically margined in white and form a graceful fountain. The reddish-pink fall plumes rise 1 ft. - 2 ft. above the foliage. It arches more so than any other cultivar of Miscanthus, so provide it plenty of room.