Miscanthus sinensis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- miss-KANTH-us sih-NEN-sis
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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This plant is problematic and alternatives should be considered. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column.
Maidengrass, in the grass family (Poaceae), is an herbaceous perennial, deciduous, ornamental grass native to Asia. It has a clumping habit and can be 4 to 6 feet wide at maturity and 4 to 12 feet tall with arching leaves. Common along roadsides and disturbed areas, it is highly flammable and an invasive species in North Carolina.
It is adaptable to all types of soil and drainage and will grow in all but the shadiest of environments. Wind-disseminated seeds increase the invasive nature of maidengrass. Heavy mulching helps prevent seed germination. A large rhizomatus root mass means that, once established, it is difficult to remove.
Foliage should be cut down in late winter or early spring, before or just as, new blades begin to appear. To control maidengrass, allow it to regrow 12 inches tall, then treat the new foliage with a 1% glyphosate solution. Adding a surfactant will help the herbicide adhere to the surface being sprayed. When the foliage dies, cut it back down and repeat the process until regeneration stops.
There are many cultivars, some of which may be less weedy or invasive than others. Look for cultivars that are bred to be less fertile, like Bandwidth™ or My Fair Maiden™ or ‘Scout’. There are suggestions for native alternatives to maidengrass in the left-hand column.
Quick ID Hints:
- Forms erect clumps.
- Terminal inflorescence is 8-inch long, finger-like racemes.
Fire Risk: This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Weedy and invasive. Listed as an invasive species by the NC Invasive Plant Council. Some cultivars have shown good resistance to phytophthora.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Border Landscape Pinewild County Club, Moore County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Adagio'
Foliage is narrow and the flowers are consistent through August - Bandwidth 'NCMS2B'
Reduced fertility, gold stripes on leaves, rust resistant NC State introduction - 'Goldfeder'
0.75 in. wide lime green leaves with light yellow stripes which darken in warm climates
'Goliath'
- 'Gracillimus'
Slender medium green, narrow, weeping leaves. Low seed set. - 'Graziella'
Narrow green leaves; copper red and orange fall color. Low seed set. - 'Hinjo'
Dwarf version with horizontal bands of yellow. Low3 seed set. - 'Little Zebra'
Shows good resistance to phytophthora. - 'Malepartus'
very graceful and colorful grass that has wider leaves than 'Graziella'
'Morning Light'
- 'Rotsilber'
Large reddish-pink flowers over a compact mound of dark green leaves which have orange-red fall color - 'Sarbonde'
Large bronzy-gold flowers over an arching mound of narrow, dark green leaves - 'Scout'
Sterile cultivar from UGA
'Silberfeder'
- 'Strictus'
Reddish fan-shaped seed heads
var. condensatus 'Cabaret'
- var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan'
Wide leaves with a creamy margin and a broad green midrib which form a substantial, arching clump. Low seed set. - 'Variegatus'
Leaves bear marginal white, longitudinal stripes - 'Yaku Jima'
Dwarf form. Low seed set. - 'Zebrinus'
6-7' tall, leaves bear transverse bands of yellow on the leaves. Low seed set.
Cascade of broad green leaves
Narrow, green leaves with three white stripes, produces a shimmering silver effect My Fair Maiden™ 'NCMS1'
Reduced fertility, big dramatic grass with soft arching leaves and showy flowers
Large, feathery plumes that emerge a shimmering pinkish-silver in late summer
Tall, densely-tufted grass which typically forms a foliage clump rising 6-9' tall with cream white center with wide dark green m - 'Adagio'
- 'Adagio', Bandwidth 'NCMS2B', 'Goldfeder', 'Goliath', 'Gracillimus', 'Graziella', 'Hinjo', 'Little Zebra', 'Malepartus', 'Morning Light', My Fair Maiden™ 'NCMS1', 'Rotsilber', 'Sarbonde', 'Scout', 'Silberfeder', 'Strictus', var. condensatus 'Cabaret', var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan', 'Variegatus', 'Yaku Jima', 'Zebrinus'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Adagio'
Foliage is narrow and the flowers are consistent through August - Bandwidth 'NCMS2B'
Reduced fertility, gold stripes on leaves, rust resistant NC State introduction - 'Goldfeder'
0.75 in. wide lime green leaves with light yellow stripes which darken in warm climates
'Goliath'
- 'Gracillimus'
Slender medium green, narrow, weeping leaves. Low seed set. - 'Graziella'
Narrow green leaves; copper red and orange fall color. Low seed set. - 'Hinjo'
Dwarf version with horizontal bands of yellow. Low3 seed set. - 'Little Zebra'
Shows good resistance to phytophthora. - 'Malepartus'
very graceful and colorful grass that has wider leaves than 'Graziella'
'Morning Light'
- 'Rotsilber'
Large reddish-pink flowers over a compact mound of dark green leaves which have orange-red fall color - 'Sarbonde'
Large bronzy-gold flowers over an arching mound of narrow, dark green leaves - 'Scout'
Sterile cultivar from UGA
'Silberfeder'
- 'Strictus'
Reddish fan-shaped seed heads
var. condensatus 'Cabaret'
- var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan'
Wide leaves with a creamy margin and a broad green midrib which form a substantial, arching clump. Low seed set. - 'Variegatus'
Leaves bear marginal white, longitudinal stripes - 'Yaku Jima'
Dwarf form. Low seed set. - 'Zebrinus'
6-7' tall, leaves bear transverse bands of yellow on the leaves. Low seed set.
Cascade of broad green leaves
Narrow, green leaves with three white stripes, produces a shimmering silver effect My Fair Maiden™ 'NCMS1'
Reduced fertility, big dramatic grass with soft arching leaves and showy flowers
Large, feathery plumes that emerge a shimmering pinkish-silver in late summer
Tall, densely-tufted grass which typically forms a foliage clump rising 6-9' tall with cream white center with wide dark green m - 'Adagio'
- 'Adagio', Bandwidth 'NCMS2B', 'Goldfeder', 'Goliath', 'Gracillimus', 'Graziella', 'Hinjo', 'Little Zebra', 'Malepartus', 'Morning Light', My Fair Maiden™ 'NCMS1', 'Rotsilber', 'Sarbonde', 'Scout', 'Silberfeder', 'Strictus', var. condensatus 'Cabaret', var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan', 'Variegatus', 'Yaku Jima', 'Zebrinus'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Miscanthus
- Species:
- sinenesis
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds are attracted to the seeds
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Some cultivars have shown good resistance to phytophthora.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Cascading
- Clumping
- Columnar
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Caryopsis
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescences a terminal panical of spikelets that unfurl atop the central vertical stalks, and differ among the numerous cultivars in terms of their time of emergence, color, separation from the upper foliage (well-separated or immersed within it), and Winter persistence. Secondary axes in elongate, finger-like racemes that grow up to 8" long. Spikelets are paired, less than an inch in size, lanceolate, and with long silky hairs basally. As fruits develop, axes develop hairs that spread for seed dispersal.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- White
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 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 on the midrib. Leaves are flat, linear sheated, inconspicuously serrulate.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are cane-like, erect, spreading, bearing leaves reducing in size upwards and terminating in an inflorescence.
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Humidity
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Wind
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Weedy
