<em>Miscanthus</em>: planting, growing and caring for

Description and botany

The Miscanthus are herbaceous perennials of the family Poaceae, formerly called Gramineae. The term miscanthus comes from the Greek contraction mischos meaning “stem” and anthos meaning “flower”. This probably refers to the distinctive shape of the flowers borne on ‘stems’ arranged in a fan. In botany, these stems that bear the flowers are called peduncles.

Miscanthus are also known as Chinese reed, eulalia or elephant grass. These ornamental grasses measure from 60 cm to 3 m in height.

Native to mountains or marshes of Asia and even Africa, there are about twenty Miscanthus species and around a hundred different varieties. Their flowing, architectural, upright habit evokes bamboo or the giant reed. However, they should not be confused with the similar cattail of the genus Typha. Some Miscanthus species come from marshes and therefore particularly appreciate banks and wet habitats.

Growth of Miscanthus is fairly late. It starts at the end of April or the beginning of May, depending on region, with the formation of erect leafy stems. The size, colour and height of the hollow stems called culms vary according to variety.

Their deciduous leaves are linear, lanceolate or ribbon-shaped.

Older cultivars (‘Gracillimus’, ‘Variegatus’, ‘Zebrinus’) require a long growing season to flower, if they flower at all. Recent notable introductions with shorter growing seasons are now available.

• Smallest varieties (0.80 to 1.30 m): Miscanthus ‘Adagio’, ‘Arabesque’, ‘Ghana’, ‘Little Miss’, ‘Little Zebra’, ‘E Lepage’… for small gardens
• Medium sizes (about 1.40 to 2.20 m): Miscanthus ‘Graziella’, ‘Flamingo’, ‘Rotsilber’, ‘Kleine Silberspinne’, ‘Etincelle’, ‘Ferner Osten’…
• Largest (around 3 m): Miscanthus floridulus, giganteus, sacchariflorus

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Zebra’, ‘Ferner Osten’, ‘Adagio’

In summer or autumn, terminal flowers appear as spikes in pink, white, silver, gold, purple, cream or red. These spikelets are small spikes of flowers directly inserted on the main axis of the culm, forming a compound spike. This spike takes a fan shape in Miscanthus. They need warmth to flower.

In late autumn, culms and leaves of Miscanthus dry and thus persist for much of the winter. Neither truly evergreen nor fully deciduous, this is known as marcescent foliage. As a result, Miscanthus remain decorative for much of the winter season.

Miscanthus species are either tufted or rhizomatous. For tufted species, the clump develops by forming new stems concentrically around the parent crown. Rhizomatous species spread by expansion of the rootstock in a more or less homogeneous way. The latter are more invasive and extend more easily by forming shoots (Miscanthus sacchariflorus).

It is possible to make dried bouquets with their dried stems and flowers. To do this, simply cut the stems close to the ground with a shear.

Appreciated by birds for collecting twigs and serving as refugia, Miscanthus form habitats favourable to wildlife.

No toxicity is known for Miscanthus.

Botanical species

• Chinese reed – Miscanthus sinensis

This species is among the most common and most planted in gardens. Native to Asia, it is available in a multitude of varieties with varied colours and heights. The species type has escaped gardens and become naturalized, sometimes becoming invasive.

Main species and varieties of miscanthus

Most common species and varieties

Most distinctive species and varieties

Miscanthus sinensis Gracillimus - Silvergrass

This cultivar is one of the most widely used in gardens. Very hardy, it reaches 1.50 metres in height with culms and green leaves with a white central vein. Its main asset is the fine foliage that rustles and dances at the slightest breath of wind. Flower spikes are copper-red.

• Flowering time October to December
• Height at maturity 1,50 m

See the product sheet

Miscanthus sinensis Gold Bar - Silvergrass

This small Miscanthus charms with its gold-striped foliage.

• Flowering time October to December
• Height at maturity 80 cm

See the product sheet

Miscanthus sinensis Graziella - Silvergrass

Narrow habit, very floriferous, pink spikes quickly become silvery and feathery. Foliage takes intense orange-copper then bronze tones. An elegant, erect and compact clump.

• Flowering time September to November
• Height at maturity 1,50 m

See the product sheet

Miscanthus sinensis Ghana - Silvergrass

Chinese reed with an erect habit, ribbon-like foliage superbly coloured purple-chocolate, red and orange in autumn. Feathery spikes open in late summer in a reddish hue, then fade to silvery-white, remaining ornamental through to mid-winter on a narrow tuft of marcescent foliage. Magnificent variety.

• Flowering time September to November
• Height at maturity 1,40 m

See the product sheet

Miscanthus sinensis Grosse Fontäne - Maiden Grass - Silvergrass

Floriferous and vigorous. Variety with late reddish spikes on foliage that turns copper in autumn.

• Flowering time October to December
• Height at maturity 2 m

See the product sheet

Planting Miscanthus

Where to plant miscanthus?

Location of miscanthus is a long-term choice because most are hard to remove due to their particularly invasive rootstock. Choose a sunny or part-shade position.

Miscanthus tolerate wind and sea spray well. They can be planted as a specimen, low or high hedge, windbreak or in a border.

When to plant miscanthus?

Planting miscanthus is done mainly during the growing season, in spring. Avoid planting during frosts or very hot weather.

How to plant miscanthus?

Respect plant span at maturity, from 0.50 metre to 3 metres depending on varieties.

Here is how to plant miscanthus:

1. Immerse rootball of your miscanthus while preparing hole.
2. Dig a hole three times size of rootball or root system.
3. Mix excavated soil with an equal amount of compost.
4. Fill hole halfway with this enriched soil mix.
5. Remove stump from soaking and place stump in centre of hole about 1 cm below soil level. To check depth of root stump, you can use a wooden board or a tool with a handle.
6. Top up hole with soil and compost mix.
7. Firm soil down.
8. Water abundantly.

Make sure to water during first summer. Shoot growth is fairly rapid.

Growing in a pot suits it too, provided you use large containers and plant the smaller varieties: discover our tips in How to grow a Miscanthus in a pot?

Caring for Miscanthus

Very easy to maintain, Chinese reeds do not suffer from any diseases or pests. Simply prune them back to ground level at the end of winter, around March. Use a shear for the finer varieties and a pruning shear for the thicker varieties. Cut stems can be used as mulch in your garden. They then produce new stems from May onwards.

During summer and autumn, remove any unsightly, broken or damaged stems by cutting them back to ground level.

After a few years, clumps tend to thin out in the centre of the stump, and it becomes necessary to divide them.

→ Also read our advice sheet : Diseases and parasites of ornamental grasses.

Multiplication: division

Like most Poaceae, miscanthus are best propagated by division. It’s the easiest method and success rate is high. Division is carried out in spring on a clump at least 4–5 years old. To divide your miscanthus after cutting the dried stems down as low as possible :

• Use a saw. After lifting the clump, cut it with a coarse-toothed saw into as many pieces as possible and replant the divisions immediately.

Dividing miscanthus

• Another technique is to strike with an axe using a mallet, making a cross so the clump is divided into four. Then use a spade to lift out the miscanthus quarters easily.

We recommend cutting the root clump into pieces of at least 20 cm.

Sowing miscanthus is possible but seeds are very light, blow away easily and germinate poorly. Moreover, sowing does not always produce plants true to parent plant. It is not recommended.

Uses and companion planting in the garden

Planting combinations with miscanthus are very easy. To balance a border, you can pair Chinese silvergrass with airy flowering perennials such as cosmos, echinacea, Verbena bonariensis, tansy or perovskias. You can also add more structural flowering perennials such as asters, Sedum spectabile, Italian immortelles, Artemisia, kniphofias, blue agapanthus or ornamental alliums.

An example of a natural combination: Miscanthus sinensis ‘Purple Fall’ (varieties similar to ‘Dronning Ingrid’ or ‘Ferner Osten’), Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Alba’, Dahlia ‘Twinning’s After Eight’, Ammi visnaga, Alcalthaea ‘Parkrondell’ (variety ‘Parkallee’ would also suit well)

You can also create a dry garden or a grass garden using other Poaceae such as fescue, imperata, carex or bottlebrush grass.

To make a winter border, pair miscanthus with red-stemmed dogwoods to highlight red dogwood shoots against miscanthus foliage. Hoarfrost and snow are simply beautiful on the spikelets of miscanthus.

Spikelets of Miscanthus magnified by hoarfrost in winter!

Tall miscanthus stems can serve as supports for some climbing plants such as morning glories.

Largest varieties are ideal for creating a backdrop for a border or a dense hedge.

→ Discover 9 more ideas for pairing with Miscanthus in our advice sheet!

Did you know?

In agro-industry, a variety of miscanthus, Miscanthus x giganteus, is used as an alternative fuel to wood for heating. It results from the cross-breeding between Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus sacchariflorus. Its energy yield appears promising for thermal power stations or even for biofuel production.

Miscanthus are also valued in permaculture for their multiple uses :

• It is used as mulch in gardens and provides a rich source of silicon
• It provides insulation for the home
• It makes a good animal litter layer for livestock, chickens…
• It favours wildlife, notably birds that shelter in it and come to gather twigs for their nests
• Cut stems from the tallest varieties are used in the garden as stakes or supports for light plants
• It helps purify water in ponds