Landscaping with Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese Silver Grass)

Adding drama and powerful structure to the landscape, Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese Silver Grass) are fabulous ornamental grasses that should have a spot in any garden. Very gifted, these grasses are easy to grow, wonderful in winter, add elegance and movement to the landscape, are generally pest and disease free, and require little maintenance. Traditionally used in Japan in decorative art and gardens, Miscanthus made a royal entrance into the occidental gardens about a century ago, thanks to their spectacular feathery plumes towering above their graceful arching foliage and year-long interest in the garden.

• Native to China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, Miscanthus sinensis are sun-loving deciduous grasses that have become so popular that they are now available in a wide range of lovely cultivars varying in height, leaf width, leaf color, or flower plume color.
• While all grasses produce flowers, Chinese Silver Grasses are among those that draw attention and get the “wow” effect. Their erect, airy flower plumes are typically produced in late summer (August or September) or early fall (October). They range from pale silver to buff and deep purplish-red, depending on the variety. Shining in the summer sun, they all fade to silver within 3-4 weeks and turn soft and fluffy. They generally retain their good looks well into the winter, providing a charming architectural display.​

• Most Chinese Silver grasses are clump-forming with a rounder outline, usually taller than wide, in which the leaves grow up and then cascade out and down like a fountain. They offer an exhaustive array of heights, from dwarf grasses no taller than 32 in. (80 cm) to majestic giants reaching 8 ft. (240 cm).
• Their arching foliage remains handsome over a long season extending from spring to winter. Many varieties of Chinese Silver Grasses provide attractive fall colors, with their leaves turning shades of red, orange, or bronze as the first frost approach.