Miscanthus giganteus
Blooming Time
Exposure
The grandaddy of the silver grasses, giant Chinese silver grass is enormous! Slowly spreading to make broad 8 foot wide thicketlike clumps, it goes from nothing to 12 feet in a single season. Then in fall, provided the weather has been hot, it sends up large fluffy plumes 1 to 2 feet above the foliage. Flowers or no flowers, it imparts a magnificent tropical-like presence and is exceptional near waterside especially in large landscapes and golf courses. It can also be used as a privacy screen or hedge and should be left up all winter as it looks great when snow covered. Then in March it should be cut down to the ground with a chain saw or weed-eater that has a circular blade attachment.
Details
Hardiness Zone:
Blossom Color:
Silver
Growth Habit:
Clump Forming
Max Height:
12'
Texture:
Recommended Spacing:
We sell this plant in these containers:
Special Characteristics
Features
Exceptionally tall, exotic fountainlike habit of rich green cascading foliage. Large floral plumes during midautumn.
Landscape Value
Superb specimen, accent, companion, or hedge/screen. Also excellent as a commercial-scale ground cover when mass planted.
Care
Watering:
Giant Chinese Silver Grass is moderately drought tolerant but benefits from occasional watering, to maintain soil in a moist but not wet condition, during the summer months.
Fertilizing:
Giant Chinese Silver Grass is a moderate feeder, benefiting from a couple of annual applications of slow release fertilizer. A spring application of a 3-1-2 ratio (such as a 15-5-10) can be applied at a rate of about 10 pounds per 1000 square feet, and during early fall, an application of a 2-1-2 ratio (such as a 10-5-10) can be applied to encourage root development and cold hardiness.
Pruning:
Giant Chinese Silver Grass should be enjoyed all winter long, then, during early April before it begins to grow again, it should be pruned or mowed back to ground level.