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

Tall and spectacular, award-winner Chinese Silver Grass ‘Cosmopolitan’ (Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus) is a very remarkable ornamental grass grown for its luminous, variegated foliage of arching green leaves with creamy margins and pale green midribs, which turn to golden yellow in the fall, before fading to straw-beige by winter. Elegant copper flower plumes appear in late summer or early fall, well above the foliage. They delicately change to silvery white as they mature and provide excellent winter interest. It looks fabulous when planted with large-leaved perennials for contrast.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Deciduous, this perennial grass can be easily grown in a dense, upright, rounded fountain-like up to 6-8 ft. tall (180-240 cm) and 4-5 ft. wide (120-150 cm). Standing out beautifully in the garden, its fine-textured foliage sways gracefully in the slightest breeze and delicately softens any landscape.
• Performs best in full sun in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Protect from excessive winter wet. Drought and salt tolerant once established.
• It is versatile and can be used as a graceful accent plant in the garden, massed to create screens or hedges, or 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.