Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- miss-KANTH-us sih-NEN-sis SIL-ber-fed-er
- Description
-
Silver Feather is a cultivar of Miscanthus sinensis, a deciduous, perennial, ornamental grass. Silver Feather is a flowering grass that matures in 2 to 5 years to about 8 feet high with a broad and arching form and a loose open manner. Large, feathery plumes emerge a shimmering pinkish-silver in late summer to give this grass its name, 'Silver Feather'. The flowers bloom continuously throughout the season and stand well above the clump of foliage, making them visible from quite a distance. The leaves appear to be solid green from a distance, though they do have white midribs.
Silver Feathre grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It tolerates a range of soil types, including clay. It can be pruned of dead foliage and old flower stems in spring.
Miscanthus sinensis is considered invasive in several states where it invades high quality grasslands and forms aggressive colonies. However, Silver Feather is considered sterile and does not spread aggressively.
This cultivar was awarded the Garden Merit Award by the Royal Horticulture Society.
Disease, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Miscanthus
- Species:
- sinensis
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Wildlife Value:
- Resistant to deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 7 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Broad
- Clumping
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Large, white flowers with a slightly pink tone blossom in late summer.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- White
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Deep green blades with silver mid-ribs.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Salt
