Landscaping with Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese Silver Grass)

Designing with Ornamental Grasses

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.

Ornamental Grasses, Miscanthus, Japanese Silver Grasses,

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.

Guide Information

Hardiness	5 - 9
Plant Type	Ornamental Grasses
Genus	Miscanthus
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Summer (Mid, Late) Fall Winter
Maintenance	Low
Water Needs	Average
Soil Type	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics	Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance	Drought, Deer, Salt, Rabbit
Attracts	Birds
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens
Garden Styles	City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Modern Garden, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’ (Chinese Silver Grass)

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Flamingo’ (Chinese Silver Grass)

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’ (Zebra Grass)

Some varieties feature beautifully variegated foliage, illuminating the garden with its fine texture. The highly popular variegated varieties are ‘Cosmopolitan‘, ‘Morning Light‘, ‘Zebrinus‘, ‘Strictus‘. The last 2 varieties display interesting horizontal golden marks on their arching leaves.
When selecting the right Chinese Silver Grass, the task may become daunting as there are over 150 varieties of Miscanthus sinensis to choose from.
Here is a comparative list of popular Chinese Silver Grasses which will help you select the right plant for the right space.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ (Chinese Silver Grass)

Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus ‘Cosmopolitan’ (Chinese Silver Grass)

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ (Porcupine Grass)

Miscanthus sinensis prefer full sun in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils. They can survive partial shade, but they tend to get thin and flop over. Cultivar ‘Variegatus’ is more shade-tolerant than most.
Amongst the easiest ornamental grasses to grow, there is a Miscanthus variety for almost every garden use. While most Miscanthus make substantial specimens, several are much more compact and suitable for small gardens or pots, reaching only 3-4 ft. in height (90-120 cm).
Good dwarf varieties include ‘Yakushima Dwarf‘ (the smallest of all), ‘Kleine Silberspinne‘, ‘Little Kitten‘, or ‘Kleine Fontane‘. They look great at the back of sunny borders and combine beautifully with Aster, Rudbeckia, Japanese Anemone or Culver’s Root, and other fall perennials.

The larger varieties of Miscanthus Sinensis make a striking focal point or specimen plant thanks to their sculptural qualities. They also create outstanding backdrops for perennials and shrubs. Amongst the most spectacular, ‘Cosmopolitan‘, with its beautifully variegated foliage, illuminating the garden with its fine texture and brightening the other plants nearby.
Other tall and impressive Miscanthus varieties, highly popular amongst gardeners, are ‘Kaskade‘, ‘Grosse Fontane‘, or ‘Silberfeder‘. They have all won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for their outstanding excellence in garden decoration.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Silberfeder’ (Chinese Silver Grass)

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Kaskade’ (Chinese Silver Grass)

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Grosse Fontane’ (Chinese Silver Grass)

Depending on their height, Miscanthus can be effectively used as informal hedges or privacy screens. Standing out beautifully in the garden, their fine-textured foliage sways gracefully in the slightest breeze, delicately softening the landscape and bringing the hedge ‘alive’.
While many Miscanthus varieties are recommended for such purpose, ‘Gracillimus‘ seems to be the favorite amongst gardeners. This old, established cultivar forms gracefully rounded mounds and has an incredible ability to capture light. Other lovely candidates, to name a few, are ‘Grosse Fontane‘ and Malepartus‘.
Extremely versatile, Miscanthus can be planted along borders, in groups or mass plantings, in raised planters, city gardens, cottage gardens, and prairie plantings, where their majestic stature and flower power will combine beautifully with other large perennials.

Miscanthus look amazing when planted with Dahlias and create incredibly elegant plantings with deep-colored Dahlias with good foliage. Gardeners’ favorite picks are Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff, Dahlia ‘Fascination, Dahlia ‘David Howard’, or Dahlia ‘Nuit d’Ete’. Vibrant Crocosmia (Montbretia) and Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) are companion choices. Their display will last for months and require little maintenance.

Dahlia ‘David Howard’

Dahlia ‘Nuit d’Ete’

Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’

Do not hesitate to combine Miscanthus with other ornamental grasses and create “wow” sceneries, mixing their colors, shapes, and textures.

Looking for inspiration? Find plenty of attractive plant combination ideas with Miscanthus sinensis.
Miscanthus sinensis is tolerant of salt and humidity prevalent in coastal areas and makes lovely screens or buffers. Use them to create a ‘protected microclimate’ for less tolerant plants.

While most Chinese Silver Grasses will tolerate drought periods once established, moist soils are required for the best performance. Plant them near ponds and pools. ‘Strictus‘ (Porcupine Grass) is more tolerant of wet soils than other cultivars.
Chinese Silver Grasses are very hardy (USDA Zones 5 – 9). A few varieties, Sarabande, Purpurascens, and ”Silberfeder‘, are hardy to zone 4. Some cultivars are hardy only to zone 6.
Miscanthus sinensis may be planted in the fall, although spring is the best time. Cut their foliage to the ground in late winter before new shoots appear.
Miscanthus sinensis may self-sow (particularly in the case of early flowering varieties) and is considered invasive in several US states. Clip off the developing seed heads to prevent seeds from forming or discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.

Discover These Helpful Guides for Further Reading

Best Chinese Silver Grasses for Your Garden (Miscanthus sinensis)

Native Plant Alternatives to Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese Silver Grass)

Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese Silver Grass)

Garden Examples

A Natural Path

A Beautiful Fall Border Idea with Asters, Verbena and Grasses

A Beautiful Fall Border Idea with Dahlias, Verbena and Grasses

A Striking Border with Astilbes and Grasses

A Charming Late Summer Garden Idea with Japanese Anemones, Sedum and Grasses

A Majestic Walkway

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Pictures are courtesy of Botanik Foto and Gap Photos/ Richard Bloom, Christa Brand, Elke Borkowski

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.