With varieties small enough for a pot on a deck, to large enough to sample the back of a border, miscanthus grasses combine two key features – foliage and flowers.
In spring, slender shoots emerge from tightly clustered plants and develop into long, narrow leaves up to 4 feet long and up to 12 inches wide. In some varieties, the leaves are serrated along the edge and gloves are recommended.
There is a central white stripe running across each leaf in some varieties, while in others there are white margins to each leaf. In a few cases, the leaves are horizontally crossed in yellow.
In fall, many varieties develop bright, fiery, red, orange, and golden yellow colors.
Flower heads appear from late summer to late fall, in white, beige, pink or mahogany feathery plumes. As the weeks go by, the columns tend to thin and mature to biscuit colors, sometimes remaining in place through the winter.
Flowering is most prolific in areas with hot summers and where autumn comes late, in areas with cool summers and early autumn some varieties may not flower at all.
“The graceful and powerful Miscanthus is prized for its stately foliage and silky terminal panicles,” say the experts at Digging Dog Nursery in California. “As individual specimens, Miscanthus are also excellent when grouped into a perennial bed or mixed border. They are attractive throughout most of the year, with autumn colors of yellow, purple, crimson and burgundy, then fading to a beautiful warm ivory in winter.
(Image credit: shutterstock/shutterstock/katherine roach)
Key Miscanthus Facts
- Ease of growth: Ease of growth
- Plant Type: Hardy perennial ornamental grass
- Mature size: 4-8 feet
- Growth rate: Strong or medium vigor
- Soil Preference: Happy in any good, acidic or neutral soil
- Best growth in: Full sun
- Planting date: spring
- Peak Seasons: Spring, summer, fall, and late summer foliage and fall bloom
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-7
- Scientific name: Miscanthus
- Common Names: Chinese silver grass, Eulalia grass, Suzuki grass
15 of the best Miscanthus varieties
Adagio
(Image credit: Shutterstock/Peter Turner Photography)
One of the smaller cultivars, available to order from Nature Hills, Miscanthus ‘Adagio’ has narrow, upright foliage as well as slender white flower heads in late summer and early fall, then turning beige.
good, would you Mid borders, containers
growth rate Mediation
Hardiness USDA Zone 6
to rise 4 feet
nightclub
(Image credit: Shutterstock/Plant Vision)
The exceptionally broad foliage features a wide central white stripe along its length. Pink flowers in late fall after a hot summer. A little less hardy than most.
good, would you Dramatic foliage effect
growth rate strong
hardiness USDA zone 7
to rise 8 ft
worldwide
(Image credit: Alamy/Bhutani Vision)
The dark green foliage has white edges with a pale, slim central vein and looks good until very late. It blooms reliably in mid to late fall.
good, would you The best tall variety
growth rate Strong to medium
hardiness USDA zone 6
to rise 8 ft
Appearance
(Image credit: Confirmed Winners)
Copperheads bloom in late summer, then fade to a beautiful tanned cream often with a late repeating display. Each dark green leaf has a narrow white central stripe.
good, would you It can be relied upon for early flowering in cool climates
growth rate strong
hardiness USDA zone 6
to rise 6 feet
far East
(Image credit: Alamy/Bhutani Vision)
The slender olive green leaves turn orange in fall, and arching mahogany flower heads above the foliage open from late summer and mature to silver.
good, would you The effect is at the back of the border
growth rate Mediation
hardiness USDA zone 6
to rise 51 feet
fire Dragon
(Image credit: Plant Haven)
A lively mix of green foliage that explodes into fiery red and orange in fall, all the while topped with silvery plumes creating a dramatic look of fire and smoke. Harder than most. You can shop for Miscanthus ‘Red Dragon’ at Nature Hills.
good, would you Intense fall color
growth rate Mediation
hardiness USDA Zone 4
to rise 6-7ft
Flamingo
(Image credit: shutterstock/shutterstock/katherine roach)
A gorgeous mix of pink-red summer flowers presented in elegant arches, which mature to form silvery seed heads. The long-striped white foliage develops bright fiery tones in fall.
good, would you Good foliage and flowers on one plant
growth rate Mediation
hardiness USDA Zone 5
to rise 5ft
very thin
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Grazyna Kuleza)
A variable plant with narrow leaves, a thin white central stripe and very late brown flowers that appear only after hot summers. It is widely available, but “Morning Light” is the best option.
good, would you Large farms or screens where cost is an issue
growth rate strong
hardiness USDA zone 6
to rise 7ft
Small fountain
(Image credit: Alamy/McPhoto/Rolf Müller)
The bright green leaves feature a thin white central stripe, and the entire plant turns golden in fall. The red plumes mature in late summer and turn silver, arching elegantly.
good, would you A mixture of flowers and foliage
growth rate Mediation
hardiness USDA zone 6
to rise 51 feet
Small silver spider
(Image credit: Alami/RM Floral)
The dark green, centrally striped leaves are attached at right angles to the stems and turn red, orange and gold in autumn, opening pink columns from late summer and then turning brown.
good, would you Maintains its color in winter
growth rate Mediation
hardiness USDA zone 6
to rise 4 feet
Little zebra
(Image credit: Alamy/CJ Wheeler)
I prefer yellow-banded varieties, as the bands are closer together than other varieties and retain their color better than most varieties. Upright growth bears dependable red fall plumes.
good, would you Container and small scale foliage farms
growth rate Mediation
hardiness USDA Zone 5
to rise 3-4 feet
Morning light
(Image credit: Alamy/Bhutani Vision)
The distinctive growth arches at the top, showing the bright white edges of the leaves. The pinkish-red plumes bloom in mid-autumn, but mainly after the hot summer.
good, would you Elegant specimen of the back of the border
growth rate strong
hardiness USDA zone 6
to rise 6 feet
Red President
(Image credit: Alamy/Wirestock Inc)
The arching green leaves turn golden in the fall, then mature to a biscotti-brown color throughout the winter. The deep red plumes fade to silver and persist throughout the winter.
good, would you Winter color
growth rate Mediation
hardiness USDA zone 6
to rise 4 feet
firm
(Image credit: Shutterstock/Nikolai Korzenko)
The cream-banded ornamentation of the foliage is very eye-catching and the plant retains its foliage well into winter. Growth is narrow and upright, and may produce red flowers in fall. Sometimes called porcupine weed, because of the spiky appearance and banded leaves, the ‘Strictus’ cultivar is available from Nature Hills.
good, would you Crowded borders
growth rate Mediation
hardiness USDA zone 6
to rise 61ft
Yakushima Dwarf
(Image credit: Shutterstock/J Need)
A very good, elegant variety with narrow foliage and beige-pink plumes that opens from mid-autumn. The ‘Elfin’, ‘Starlight’ and ‘Little Kitten’ toys available for purchase at Nature Hills are similar.
good, would you Mixed border interface containers
growth rate slow
hardiness USDA zone 6
to rise 32 inches
common questions
Are miscanthus deer resistant?
In general, yes. At Rutgers University in New Jersey, the Agricultural Experiment Station studies which plants are resistant to deer sickness and which are not. The result is that they classified a large number of plants, both famous and not-so-popular, into one of four categories.
Miscanthus falls into the “seldom harmed” category, highest in deer resistance, which means exactly that. Miscanthus is rarely damaged, partly because many varieties have small, very sharp teeth along the edges of the leaves.
Is Miscanthus invasive?
Miscanthus is increasingly seen as a potential invader, especially in the East. It has been observed as an invader in twenty-five states, D.C., as well as Ontario.
It is propagated by seed but it is often said that some varieties are sterile and never produce seeds. However, the Chicago Botanic Garden looked at thirty-four species and found that only four failed to produce seed: ‘Cabaret’, ‘Little Nicky’ (‘Hingo’), and the rarely seen ‘Silberville’ as well as elephant grass (Miscanthus x gigantius).
Research has also indicated that in the most suitable growing areas, ‘Cabaret’, ‘Little Nicky’ (Hingo) and ‘Silberville’ are likely to produce only seeds and elephant grass (Miscanthus x gigantius) will never produce seeds. But of course, once established, elephant grass can spread aggressively at the root.
In areas with cold summers, many miscanthus species will not flower and therefore will not produce any seeds and therefore will not spread. If in doubt, plant only foliage species that do not flower in your area.
Can I grow miscanthus in a container?
Yes. Almost all miscanthus can be grown in pots. In fact, they have a beneficial feature that makes them especially valuable for container growing.
Shorter varieties will naturally thrive in pots and may mature well at their usual height, especially if fed and watered regularly. However, most taller varieties also grow well in containers, but will simply mature as shorter plants.
It is beneficial to plant taller varieties in concrete, clay or stone pots because their weight will help prevent the pot from blowing away during a storm. Choose a soil-based potting mix, and try to keep the pots constantly moist because if they dry out the plants will lose their lower leaves, spoiling the display.
Planted with care and respect for your local environment, miscanthus grasses work hard without requiring much attention. If you plan to add some to your garden, it may be helpful to know when to cut back ornamental grasses, so you can keep your plants properly sized.
