Miscanthus sinensis

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling

miss-KANTH-us sih-NEN-sis

This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina

Description

This plant is problematic and alternatives should be considered. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column.

Maiden grass, in the true grass or Poaceae family, is the most common ornamental grass. Having originated in Asia, this grass has numerous cultivars, although some are considered weedy and invasive in the southeastern United States. It is seen most commonly along roadsides and disturbed areas.

This clumping grass grows up to 12 feet tall in all types of soil and in all but the shadiest of environments. Wind-disseminated seeds increase the invasive nature of some cultivars that, once established, are difficult to eradicate. Frost-killed portions of maiden grass can remain standing throughout the dormant season because the buff-colored foliage, stalks, and hairy white fruiting heads have great fall and winter interest and the seeds are particularly attractive to song birds.

Foliage should be cut down in late winter or early spring before, or just as, new blades begin to appear. Heavy mulching helps prevent seed germination and can keep this plant from becoming invasive. It is relatively pest and disease-free, is highly salt tolerant, and also resistant to damage by deer.

There are many cultivars and some are less likely to self-seed than others. Look for cultivars that do not flower until September or October, or cultivars that are bread to be less fertile like Bandwidth™ or My Fair Maiden™.

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: This plant can become weedy and invasive. Listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council. Some cultivars have shown good resistance to phytophthora. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

Profile Video:

See this plant in the following landscape:

Border Landscape Pinewild County Club, Moore County

Cultivars / Varieties:

'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'
Cascade of broad green leaves

'Gracillimus'

Slender medium green, narrow, weeping leaves

'Graziella'
Narrow green leaves; copper red and orange fall color

'Hinjo'

Dwarf version with horizontal bands of yellow more closely spaced than those of 'Zebrinus'

'Little Zebra'
Shows good resistance to phytophthora.

'Malepartus'
very graceful and colorful grass that has wider leaves than 'Graziella'

'Morning Light'

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

'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'
Large, feathery plumes that emerge a shimmering pinkish-silver in late summer

'Strictus'

Reddish fan-shaped seed heads

var. condensatus 'Cabaret'

Tall, densely-tufted grass which typically forms a foliage clump rising 6-9' tall with cream white center with wide dark green m

var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan'

Wide leaves with a creamy margin and a broad green midrib which form a substantial, arching clump

'Variegatus'

Leaves bear marginal white, longitudinal stripes

'Yaku Jima'

Dwarf form

'Zebrinus'

6-7' tall, leaves bear transverse bands of yellow on the leaves

'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:

#arching #showy flowers #invasive #full sun tolerant #salt tolerant #apvg #fall interest #high maintenance #fire high flammability #aggressive #deer resistant #wind dispersed seeds #self-seeding #disturbed areas #pollinator plant #fantz #dried arrangements #poor soils tolerant #bird friendly #apvg-p #roadside #weed #wildlife friendly #cpp #hs111 #hs303

Showy white seed heads in the fall. Matt Levin CC-BY-SA 2.0

Miscanthus sinensis — Flower head (Warren County, NC)- Winter Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0

Form Asheville, NC — Form, Asheville, NC Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Weedy growing along a curb Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Gold Bar' Form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

It can be weedy and sprout through wind dispersed seeds. Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Seed heads in January Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0

Flowers -November - Wake Co., NC Cathy DeWitt CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Flowers - Wake Co., NC Cathy DeWitt CC BY 4.0