Miscanthus Species, Chinese Silvergrass, Eulalia, Maiden Grass, Zebra Grass

Miscanthussinensis

Family
Poaceae (poh-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Miscanthus (miss-KANTH-us)
Species
sinensis (sy-NEN-sis)
Synonym
Miscanthus sinensis var. gracillimus
Miscanthus sinensis var. variegatus
Miscanthus sinensis var. zebrinus
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Herbaceous
Provides Winter Interest
Height
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
Spacing
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Bloom Color
Maroon/Burgundy
Bloom Time
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other Details
Category
Ornamental Grasses and Bamboo
Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Blue-Green
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Burgkunstadt, Bayern

Oildale, California

Denver, Colorado

Lewes, Delaware

Brooksville, Florida

Pensacola, Florida

Boise, Idaho

Decatur, Illinois

Macomb, Illinois

Pontiac, Illinois

Washington, Illinois

Davenport, Iowa

Hutchinson, Kansas

Olathe, Kansas

Pikesville, Maryland

Towson, Maryland

Roslindale, Massachusetts

Sterling, Massachusetts

Grand Marais, Michigan

Aurora, Missouri

Springfield, Missouri

Hillsdale, New York

Jefferson, New York

Nineveh, New York

Emerald Isle, North Carolina

New Bern, North Carolina

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio

Fayetteville, Pennsylvania

Okatie, South Carolina

Prosperity, South Carolina

Hendersonville, Tennessee

Arlington, Texas

Keller, Texas

Seattle, Washington

Morgantown, West Virginia

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Gardener's Notes:

7
positives
5
neutrals
3
negatives
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C
ROSLINDALE, MA | March 2014 | neutral

The narrow-leafed cultivars shed snow and ice better than those with broader foliage. They still tend to break down eventually here, wher...Read More

R
Downingtown, PA | January 2014 | negative

In the early 1990's when I discovered the Maiden Eulalaigrass, Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracilimus' I liked it along with the Porcupine and Z...Read More

S
Huntington Beach, CA | April 2013 | positive

This plant is not 100% evergreen in my zone 10 (Sunset 24), but it is lovely and showy and worth the effort. It also needs room. I tried ...Read More

T
Hilliard, OH (Zone 6b) | January 2013 | negative

Hope I don't get any backlash from this comment, but im about to bash the entire miscanthus family. Aside from being an introduced, invas...Read More

M
M
Sterling, MA | August 2012 | positive

Grows very well here in my zone 6 garden. Other than trimming it back in early spring, this plant has never required any other care. I pl...Read More

N
Grand Marais, MI | March 2012 | positive

An outstanding Miscanthus sinensis cultivar here on the south shore of Lake Superior is 'Little Zebra'. It does very well for us and isn...Read More

O
O
San Diego, CA | October 2011 | neutral

WARNING!!!! While this plant stays green almost year round and grows well in San Diego, YOU MUST WEAR LONG SLEEVES, LONG PANTS AND GLOVE...Read More

B
Prosperity, SC (Zone 7b) | August 2011 | positive

Love love love this med sized grass, looks good all year, normally we cut it back about Nov but we left it uncut last year...Made for a g...Read More

G
Macomb, IL | April 2008 | positive

I think I'm going to be very pleased with the stand-alone specimen of Maiden Grass "gracillimus" that I added to my perennial bed last su...Read More

F
Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) | December 2006 | neutral

Eulalia, Japanese Silver Grass, Maiden Grass, Zebra Grass Miscanthus sinensisis naturalized in Texas and other States and is considered a...Read More

G
(Zone 5a) | January 2006 | positive

I love Miscanthus. It grows well in an area I can't get other things to grow, and looks beautiful.

C
Henderson, KY | April 2005 | positive

While these plants can be 'invasive', if taken care of (including tending to the seedheads in the falls) they can provide great joy and a...Read More

T
| October 2003 | negative

This plant is highly invasive. I have seen it take over hay fields, roadsides and just about everywhere else. In my opinion it should be...Read More

M
M
Ewing, KY (Zone 6a) | January 2003 | neutral

In the warmer zones 8 and 9 the foliage is evergreen, and deciduous in the cooler zones.

V
Memphis, TN (Zone 7b) | August 2001 | neutral

M. sinensis is one of about twenty species of the genus Miscanthus. The reed-like stems bear narrow lance-shaped arching leaves. ...Read More

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