Miscanthus sinensis
Chinese silver grass
Common names: Chinese miscanthus, elephant grass
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- Sep–Oct
- Hardiness
- Hardy
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Miscanthus sinensis, commonly known as Chinese silver grass, is a tall, upright ornamental grass that blooms in late summer and autumn with silky, glossy panicles. Depending on the cultivar, it reaches 1.5 to 2.5 m in height and forms dense, overhanging clumps of narrow, often silver‑striped leaves. In winter the dried culms remain standing, bearing icicles and snow in an impressive way, which is why many gardeners wait until spring to prune. Popular cultivars include ‘Kleine Fontäne’ for smaller beds and ‘Gracillimus’ with very narrow, finely feathered leaves. The plant is bee‑friendly, robust and low‑maintenance once established.
Care instructions
Prune the Chinese silver grass only in early spring, just before new growth begins, usually late February to mid‑March (weeks 8 to 11). Leave the culms standing over winter: they provide structure and shelter for insects. The clump prefers a sunny spot and tolerates drought well once established; in the first one to two years after planting water regularly. Every three to five years you can divide the root ball in spring when the center of the clump thins. A lean to moderately nutrient‑rich soil is sufficient; too much fertilizer makes the culms unstable and they tip more easily.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringSep–Oct
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, nutrient-rich, moist, loamy
Chinese silver grass likes deep, nutrient-rich soil with good drainage, because the plant does not like winter waterlogging at all. An ideal spot stays evenly moist in summer without becoming waterlogged. Loamy to sandy-loamy soils with a good humus content give the strongest growth. On lean, very dry sites the clump stays much smaller.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Mar, May
One dose of mature compost in early spring, as soon as the new growth becomes visible, is usually enough for the whole season. If you like, also mulch with grass clippings or leaf mould; this keeps the soil moist and releases nutrients as a bonus. A second, light dose of compost in mid-May supports the vigorous growth of the large clumps. Chinese silver grass does not normally need more than that; too much nitrogen tends to make the stems unstable.
Overwintering
Chinese silver grass is hardy and gets through our winters outdoors without any problem. It is important to leave the dried stems standing over winter: they protect the base from frost and wet, and they also look wonderful with hoar frost. Only in early spring, just before new growth, around late February to March, do you cut the whole clump back close to the ground. With young plants or particularly hard frost, a loose mulch layer of leaves at the base helps as well.
Propagation
Methods
- Division
The most reliable method is division in early spring, as soon as the first shoot tips become visible. Dig up the whole clump and split it with a sharp spade into several strong pieces, each with its own roots. Replant the pieces straight away and keep them evenly moist for the first few weeks, until they have established well. Older, very large clumps can be rejuvenated this way too, since the centre tends to go bare over the years.
For your garden
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Where to get this plant
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