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Giant Miscanthus Miscanthus floridulus

Phonetic Spelling
miss-KANTH-us flor-ID-yoo-lus
Description

Pacific island silvergrass is the largest of the Miscanthus species in the  (grass) family found in the lowland of Japan, Taiwan, and other Pacific Islands.  The erect vertical clumping form will grow quickly to a height of 8 to 12 feet and a width of 4 feet so be sure to have room in the landscape for this large ornamental grass.

It features coarse foliage with a distinct central rachis on a  feathery inflorescence which can be male or female.  The seeds are dispersed by wind.  In the autumn the leaves display a beautiful purplish tint gradually turning tan by winter.

Plant in full sun in loamy moist soil with a high organic content.  It better tolerates wet soils than other Miscanthus species, as well as being salt and wind tolerant and resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits.  Propagate this plant by seed or divide in the early spring or early fall.  Prune back to the ground in early spring to rejuvinate.

Use this plant as a specimen or accent or mass plant it as a screen in a large landscape.  The flowers work well fresh or dried so consider this plant in a cutting garden.  Its coarse upright form looks attractive in a naturalized area, a large cottage garden, planted near a pond or other water garden. Or use it to provide sculptural interest in a fall or winter landscape.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  It can be weedy and difficult to remove.  The edges of the leaves are sharp, so wear gloves when handling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Giganteus'
    Very tall
  • 'Stricta'
'Giganteus', 'Stricta'
Tags:
#purple leaves#salt tolerant#winter interest#fall interest#cottage garden#rabbit resistant#year-round interest#pond margins#fast growing#deer resistant#wind dispersed seeds#food source fall#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#weed#wildlife friendly#meadow#accent
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Giganteus'
    Very tall
  • 'Stricta'
'Giganteus', 'Stricta'
Tags:
#purple leaves#salt tolerant#winter interest#fall interest#cottage garden#rabbit resistant#year-round interest#pond margins#fast growing#deer resistant#wind dispersed seeds#food source fall#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#weed#wildlife friendly#meadow#accent
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Miscanthus
    Species:
    floridulus
    Family:
    Poaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The culms are used for arrow-shafts in Papua New Guinea and as support and drying racks for climbing vegetables and tobacco in the Philippines
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds are attracted to the seeds
    Dimensions:
    Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
    Habit/Form:
    Cascading
    Clumping
    Erect
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Caryopsis
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Good Dried
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Winter
    Flower Description:
    Male and female plants. Large white inflorescence in mid-summer turning buff color in fall; dominate central rachis.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Variegated
    White
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    3 feet long, deep green with white mid vein, turning purplish hues in autumn, gradually turning tan by winter.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Water Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Pollution
    Rabbits
    Salt
    Wet Soil
    Wind
    Problems:
    Weedy