Miscanthus sinensis Red Chief - Silvergrass

Miscanthus sinensis 'Red Chief' is a beautifully coloured dwarf variety of maiden grass. This pretty grass has a bushy and compact habit. From August, it is adorned with red plumes stirred by the wind, but firmly anchored to sturdy stems. In autumn, the narrow silver-green foliage ignites with sumptuous yellow-orange tones. This superb variety will be easy to integrate into small gardens or to grow in a large pot on a patio or balcony. Like most Chinese reed grasses, it needs sun and soil that is sufficiently cool and loose to express the fullness of its foliage and flowering.

The 'Red Chief' maiden grass belongs to the large Poaceae family. It is a horticultural form derived from Miscanthus sinensis, a species native to extreme eastern Asia and Oceania. This perennial grass with short rhizomes grows in non-spreading clumps. It is tufted and fast-growing. Its habit is both compact and erect. It reaches a height of 1.2m (4ft) in flower after 10 years, with a spread of 1m (3ft). The linear leaves are very thin, long, and flexible. They are green with white veins, turning yellow-orange from August. Long floral stems emerge from the foliage from August to November, in the form of silky reddish-brown digitate spikes. When withered, they take on a lovely silvery hue. The plumes are made up of tiny flowers that close a little after blooming, only to open again when mature. They then take on a paler and more downy appearance and persist on the plant throughout winter.

'Red Chief' is ideal for the background of large flower beds, to which its strong presence brings beautiful structure and lots of colour at the end of summer. It is suitable for wild gardens and contemplative gardeners. Just plant it among asters, in the company of garden chrysanthemums or roses and perpetual daylilies. Watch it grow and expand, play with the wind and the low autumn light, and bend under rain showers. It also has its place in modern gardens with clean lines, in the company of dwarf bamboos or ferns if the soil is moist. These grasses bring volume and texture to perennial flower beds, lightening their flowering. In an urban garden, 'Red Chief' will soften concrete structures. Growing it in large containers is also highly recommended, decorating a patio or balcony with panache and elegance.