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Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Kitten’ (Chinese Silver Grass)

Maiden Grass 'Little Kitten', Eulalia 'Little Kitten', Chinese Silver Grass 'Little Kitten', Japanese Silver Grass 'Little Kitten'

Miscanthus Sinensis 'Little Kitten', Maiden Grass 'Little Kitten', Eulalia 'Little Kitten', Chinese Silver Grass 'Little Kitten', Japanese Silver Grass 'Little Kitten'

Extremely compact, Chinese Silver Grass ‘Little Kitten’ (Miscanthus sinensis) is perfect for small gardens. Its fine-textured foliage, which consists of arching, narrow green leaves, turns to golden brown shades in the fall, and creates an exquisite fountain shape that stands out beautifully and sways gracefully in the slightest breeze. Graceful, pink- or red- flushed, silvery, creamy white flower plumes emerge in late summer that will delicately change to pale brown as they mature and provide a delightful winter interest. A very rewarding ornamental grass!

  • Deciduous, this Chinese Silver Grass can be easily grown in a dense, upright clump up to 3 ft. tall (90 cm) and 18-24 in. wide (45-60 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Protect from excessive winter wet. Drought and salt tolerant once established.
  • Very versatile, it can be used as a graceful accent plant in the garden, massed to create screens or hedges, planted in borders, coastal gardens, city gardens, cottage gardens or prairie plantings.
  • This Chinese Silver Grass is generally pest and disease free. It is deer and rabbit resistant but attracts birds.
  • Cut foliage to the ground in late winter before new shoots appear. Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring or by division in spring.
  • Native to Asia, the species form of Miscanthus sinensis is invasive in several US states. The invasive potential is of less concern for many of its ornamental cultivars, some of which are sterile. However, as a general rule, do not plant more than one cultivar on your property, and use only a vegetatively propagated cultivar that has shown little or no evidence of self-seeding in your area.
  • Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.

 

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Ornamental Grasses
Plant Family Poaceae
Genus Miscanthus
Common names Chinese Silver Grass, Japanese Silver Grass, Maiden Grass, Eulalia
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Late), Fall, Winter
Height 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" - 24" (50cm - 60cm)
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
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers, Small Gardens
Garden Styles Modern Garden, Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden, Coastal Garden, City and Courtyard
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Miscanthus (Maiden Grass)
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Kleine Fontane’ (Chinese Silver Grass)
Miscanthus nepalensis (Himalaya Fairy Grass)
Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus ‘Cosmopolitan’ (Chinese Silver Grass)
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Kleine Silberspinne’ (Chinese Silver Grass)
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’ (Chinese Silver Grass)
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ (Porcupine Grass)

Recommended Companion Plants

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ (Smooth Hydrangea)
Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ (‘Autumn Joy’)
Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ (Giant Hyssop)
Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ (Sneezeweed)
Helenium ‘Sahin’s Early Flowerer’ (Sneezeweed)
Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ (Purple Fountain Grass)
Geranium Rozanne (Cranesbill)
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ (Montbretia)
Dahlia ‘David Howard’
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)
Helenium (Sneezeweed)
Echinacea (Coneflower)
Arctotis (African Daisy)
Agapanthus (African Lily)
Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox)
Persicaria amplexicaulis (Mountain Fleece)
Rudbeckia fulgida (Black-Eyed Susan)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese Silver Grass)
Best Chinese Silver Grasses for Your Garden (Miscanthus sinensis)
Native Plant Alternatives to Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese Silver Grass)
Great Ornamental Grasses for your Winter Garden
Landscaping with Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese Silver Grass)
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.
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Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Ornamental Grasses
Plant Family Poaceae
Genus Miscanthus
Common names Chinese Silver Grass, Japanese Silver Grass, Maiden Grass, Eulalia
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Late), Fall, Winter
Height 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" - 24" (50cm - 60cm)
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
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens, Patio And Containers, Small Gardens
Garden Styles Modern Garden, Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden, Coastal Garden, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Miscanthus (Maiden Grass)
Not sure which Miscanthus (Maiden Grass) to pick?
Compare Now

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