Eulalia Miscanthus sinensis
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Eulalia:
- 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'
- Bandwidth 'NCMS2B'
Reduced fertility, gold stripes on leaves, rust resistant NC State introduction
'Goldfeder'
- 'Little Zebra'
Shows good resistance to phytophthora.
'Malepartus'
- 'Scout'
Sterile cultivar from UGA
'Silberfeder'
Foliage is narrow and the flowers are consistent through August
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'
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
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 - Bandwidth 'NCMS2B'
- '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:
-
-
'Adagio'
- Bandwidth 'NCMS2B'
Reduced fertility, gold stripes on leaves, rust resistant NC State introduction
'Goldfeder'
- 'Little Zebra'
Shows good resistance to phytophthora.
'Malepartus'
- 'Scout'
Sterile cultivar from UGA
'Silberfeder'
Foliage is narrow and the flowers are consistent through August
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'
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
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 - Bandwidth 'NCMS2B'
- '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:
-
-
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.
-
-
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
-
-
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
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Caryopsis
-
-
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.
-
-
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.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are cane-like, erect, spreading, bearing leaves reducing in size upwards and terminating in an inflorescence.
-
-
Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Humidity
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Wind
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Weedy
