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    Miscanthus sinensis

                                                        Maiden Grass, Eulalia, or Chinese Silver Grass

• Form
  • perennial ornamental grass
  • dwarf cultivars are 3' tall, most cultivars range from 4' - 8' tall, and giant cultivars range from 9'-15' tall
  • upright columnar to upright arching growth habits
  • slow to emerge in Spring, but with a rapid growth rate thereafter
• Culture
  • full sun to partial sun
  • most Maiden Grass cultivars prefer full sun in occasionally moist to mostly dry, well-drained soils, but are very adaptable to harsh conditions once established, including poor soils, compacted soils, soils of various pH, and especially to heat and drought
  • Grass Family, with virtually no disease or pest problems
  • allow the frost-killed portions to remain throughout the dormant season, as the tan-colored foliage, stalks, and fruiting heads have great Winter interest
  • shear the dead portions back to 3" above the ground by mid- April, to allow the new growth to emerge unhindered
  • when sited near bodies of water, Miscanthus sinensis should not have its roots in the water table, as it does not tolerate wet or permanently moist soils; however, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, along with some other perennial grasses, do well at the water's edge or in the water
• Foliage
  • linear blades of foliage initially arise directly from the crowns, in an upright then arching habit, and later arise from the vertical stems in an alternate fashion, becoming shorter as they progress up the shaft
  • depending upon the specific cultivar, the arching blades may range from 0.25" to 2" wide, and 3' to 5' long, sometimes with variegation on the medium-green foliage that is silver, white, cream, or yellow
• Flowers
  • inflorescences unfurl atop the central vertical stalks, and differ among the numerous cultivars in terms of their time of emergence (late July until frost), color (silver, gold, pinkish, purplish, reddish, or a mixture thereof), separation from the upper foliage (well-separated or immersed within it), and Winter persistence (usually persistent, but sometimes slowly shattering)
  • inflorescences somewhat resemble corn tassels in their appearance, but are usually much more dense and arch to one side of the stalk

• Function
  • often used as a specimen or focal point, but also commonly found at foundations or entranceways, along borders, in group or mass plantings, in raised planters, near bodies of water, or as privacy screens
  • important from a design standpoint, where "movement in the landscape" (referring to its swaying in the breezes) is an important element
• Assets
  • very urban tolerant, especially to heat, drought, and poor soils
  • numerous cultivars that differ in height, foliage variegation, and floral color
  • excellent for its swaying in gentle breezes
  • Winter appeal of the dead foliage and fruiting heads
  • rapid establishment
• Purpose
  • Maiden Grass is the most common ornamental grass, having numerous cultivars.
• Summary
  • Miscanthus sinensis is known as an upright to arching ornamental grass, with its many cultivars to choose from that differ in their foliage, inflorescence color, texture, bloom period, and mature height.

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