Miscanthus sinensis Yaku-Jima - Silvergrass

Miscanthus sinensis 'Yaku-Jima', also called Eulalia or Chinese silver grass, is the dwarf form of Miscanthus sinensis. This beautiful perennial grass, with a non-invasive clump-forming habit, slowly but steadily grows and has gracefully arching leaves, widely marked in the centre with white veins. The golden flowers, quickly turning pink, barely rise above the foliage. They appear in late summer or early autumn. This variety is particularly suitable for container planting. It is decorative from late summer to the heart of winter, when its plumes are delicately powdered with frost. Its inflorescences are perfect for dried bouquets. It is easy to grow in any ordinary soil that is not too dry but moist, in full sun.

'Yaku-Jima' belongs to the Poaceae family. It is a dwarf form of Miscanthus sinensis, native to China (in the pan-Himalayan region up to 2000m (6562ft) altitude), Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, and New Zealand. This perennial and clump-forming* grass, with short rhizomes, forms a strong tuft with an upright and trailing habit, rarely exceeding 1m (3ft) in height, with a spread of 70cm (28in). The leaves are slender, very long, and flexible. They are mostly dark green marked with a light central band, then turn light beige in autumn and winter. Graceful culms barely emerge from the foliage from September to November, in the form of digitate and silky spikes 20 to 30cm (8 to 12in) long. They are golden and silver, before quickly turning pink. When withered, they take on a silvery hue. The plumes consist of tiny flowers that close a little afterwards, then open again at maturity. They then take on a paler and more fluffy appearance.

 *This term designates, for example, a type of grass whose rhizomes are not trailing.

It has deciduous foliage, but remains decorative for much of the winter. It is a "grass" that is made for large planting schemes, to which its strong presence brings a beautiful structure and grace. It is also suitable for wild gardens and contemplative gardeners. Plant it among asters, behind garden chrysanthemums, or repeat-flowering roses. Watch it grow and fill out. See it play with the wind and the low autumn light. Marvel as it bends under rain showers. When winter comes, it lights up the garden with its reassuring silhouette. It has its place in modern gardens, with clean lines, in the company of bamboo or ferns if the soil is moist. Miscanthus is well suited for hedge planting, creating a screen along a path, isolating a part of the garden, or simply hiding the view of the street or a neighbour's garden. In this use, they offer a slightly unreal appearance. These grasses bring volume and texture to the boundaries of the garden, creating a natural transition to the open areas. They are also very beautiful when placed near ponds, as their silhouette gracefully reflects in the water. In an urban garden, Miscanthus 'Yaku-Jima' softens concrete structures. It is well suited for large containers, to furnish a patio or balcony in a simple and elegant way. It looks beautiful in dried bouquets.

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