Miscanthus sinensis Flamingo - Silvergrass

This Miscanthus sinensis 'Flamingo' is interesting for its very dense, tall and spreading habit, which gives it a particularly elegant silhouette. Its growth is vigorous. The foliage is also attractive, very fine, green with a thin but distinct white central vein, turning yellow-orange in autumn as soon as the cool weather sets in. The floral spikes, arched and airy, are shrimp pink when they first appear and persist for quite some time in this color before turning silver. Strong growth. It is an ideal perennial for the back of borders and terrace decoration.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Flamingo', also known as Chinese silver grass or maiden grass, belongs to the Poaceae family. It is a horticultural selection derived from Miscanthus sinensis, native to China (in the pan-Himalayan region up to 2000 m (6562ft) altitude), Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, and New Zealand. This tall, clumping perennial grass, with short rhizomes, forms a strong tuft with a narrow, erect, and trailing habit, reaching a height of 1.60 m (5ft) and spreading to 70 cm (28in). The leaves are thin, very long, flexible, initially dark green with a very fine white midrib, then turning yellow-orange in autumn. Long flower stalks emerge from the foliage from September to October, in the form of slender, digitate, silky spikes measuring 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12in) long, shrimp pink-reddish in color. As they fade, they take on a silvery hue. The plumes consist of tiny pink flowers that close up shortly after, only to reopen when mature. They then take on a paler and more fluffy appearance.

Among ornamental grasses, Miscanthus is probably one of the most beautiful and least invasive. It has been the subject of numerous selections and is the origin of many cultivars. They all share a silhouette of an erect, regular, and arching tuft, with long leaves with a light midrib, turning straw yellow in winter. It is also a wonderful perennial that grows on its own, perfect for contemplative gardeners, and has a place in a modern garden with clean lines, or in large ensembles where it lightens the flowering, leaving a sense of freedom in its wake. It is perefct for the background of large borders, bringing a beautiful structure and a lot of grace. In winter, like conifers, it lights up the garden with its reassuring silhouette. Miscanthus is well suited for planting as a hedge, creating a screen along a path, isolating a part of the garden, or simply blocking the view of the street or a neighbor's garden. In this use, it offers a somewhat unreal walk through the vegetation. In an urban garden, Miscanthus 'Flamingo' will soften concrete structures. It will thrive when grown in large containers on a terrace. This plant will be simply magnificent near water features, where its elegant silhouette will be reflected in the water. Finally, this Maiden Grass can be used to create beautiful dried flower arrangements.

Certain giant varieties of Miscanthus are currently being studied as they offer real prospects for the production of standing crop or fiber panels. These plants have several advantages: they do not deplete the soil, tolerate polluted soils well, can be incinerated without valorization, or even used for the production of biofuel.