Miscanthus sinensis Rotsilber - Silvergrass

Miscanthus sinensis 'Rotsilber' is a variety of Chinese Silver Grass that is particularly beautiful in autumn. At the end of summer, its purple-pink panicles rise just above its fine, ribbon-like foliage, which is green with prominent light veins. Then, this medium-sized variety offers the unforgettable sight of its incandescent mass, glowing red-copper, covered in silky silver plumes from the first frost. This is another grass that is hardy and tolderates moderate drought, recommended for cold regions.

The 'Rotsilber' Chinese Silver Grass belongs to the Poaceae family. It is a horticultural form of Miscanthus sinensis, native to East Asia and Oceania. This large perennial grass with short rhizomes grows in non-tracing tufts and forms clumps. Its habit is both upright and trailing, reaching a height of 1.2 m (4 ft), with a spread of 1 m (3 ft). The slender leaves measuring 10 mm (0.4 in) wide are very long and flexible, initially dark green with prominent silver veins before turning red-copper in autumn before taking on a straw colour in winter. Floral stems, 1.5 m (5 ft) long, green tinged with purple, emerge from the foliage from August to October, in the form of digitate, silky spikes 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) long, with a very noticeable pink-purple colour. As they fade, they take on a brushed wine colour with shiny silver highlights.

This Chinese Silver Grass has deciduous foliage, but retains its appeal for a large part of the winter. Made for large borders, it adds a beautiful structure and a lot of grace. It is also a wonderful perennial that grows on its own, for wild areas, for a modern garden with clean lines. Just place it among asters, behind garden chrysanthemums, or in a grass garden, and then watch it grow and fill out as it plays with the wind and the low autumn light, bending under rain showers. Miscanthus are well suited for hedge planting, forming a screen along a path, isolating a part of the garden, or simply hiding the view. They bring volume and texture to the boundaries of the garden. The 'Rotsilber' miscanthus will be magnificent along a pond, in well-drained soil. In an urban garden, it will soften concrete structures. It is also possible to grow it in large containers.

Among ornamental grasses, Miscanthus sinensis 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 their upright, regular and arched clump-like silhouette, with long leaves with a clear central stripe, turning a straw yellow colour in winter.