Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
9/26/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Maria Ball, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-2710, mball@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Miscanthus: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful
By Linda Naeve
Extension Coordinator, Reiman Gardens
This week's Reiman's Pick is a beautiful ornamental grass known as Japanese silver grass, Miscanthus sinensis. It adds height and texture to gardens in the fall and, for me it brings back many memories.
I was first introduced to the beauty of ornamental grasses when I was a child. In the fall, my mother would cut bunches of white, fluffy plumes from a grass that grew wild in the ditches in eastern Iowa. She called it "pampas grass." Later, as a horticulture student, I learned that this beautiful grass wasn't true pampas grass, but rather a species of miscanthus known as silver banner grass or Miscanthus saccariflorus. Pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana, is a large perennial grass native to South America and well adapted to gardens in the southeastern United States and California, but is not hardy as far north as Iowa. It forms large clumps with dramatic plumes atop 12-foot stems.
Pampas grass does have something in common with the silver banner grass growing in Iowa ditches. They are both aggressive colonizers, often competing with native vegetation. Silver banner grass was planted in ditches to stabilize the soil on the steep slopes and because it is low maintenance and does not require mowing. Once it takes hold in an area, however, it can be difficult to control because it spreads by vigorous rhizomes. It is not recommended for small gardens.
Fortunately, Japanese silver grass is a worthy alternative because it forms clumps that may increase in diameter but won't spread out of bounds or self-seed. There are many cultivated varieties of this species so gardeners have a smorgasbord of plants to choose from that differ considerably in size, height, texture, summer and autumn foliage color, and flowering times.
As you might expect, Japanese silver grass is native to Japan, Korea and China. It is hardy to zones 5 or 6, depending on the variety. Like most ornamental grasses, it should be planted where it will get at least six to eight hours of sun a day. Plant it in early spring, spacing it at least three or four feet from other plants. You will find it is one of the easiest garden plants to grow: just water it regularly, sit back and watch it grow. Japanese silver grass will grow five to nine feet tall, depending on the variety. In August, the flowers will appear and rise up above the foliage. The soft, fluffy plumes often emerge a reddish color and fade to silver white as they dry. The flowers persist on the plants and add interest in the garden through the winter because frost and snow clings to the flowers and yellow, straw-colored foliage. Cut the dead foliage back in late winter. If the clumps become too large, they can be divided in early spring.
During the growing season, miscanthus foliage offers color, texture and a unique form to the garden. There are numerous variegated varieties. 'Zebrinus,' sometimes called zebra grass, has wide leaves with horizontal yellow bands. 'Variegatus' provides a strong white accent in the landscape with a dominant white vertical stripe on its wide leaves. Many gardeners will agree that one of the best and commonly available miscanthus varieties is 'Morning Light.' It has very narrow foliage with uniform white vertical variegation. The flowers have a reddish tint that glisten in early morning and late afternoon sun.
Japanese silver grass makes an excellent specimen plant to anchor a corner of a bed or to stand alone next to the house. Taller varieties also make a great screen along a fence or border. In September, the flowers can be cut and used in fresh and dried arrangements.
You can see beautiful Japanese silver grass plants throughout Reiman Gardens. They stand out in the ornamental grass collection and other perennial plantings.
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