Miscanthus sinensis Strictus

Chinese silver grass has elegant long green leaves with unusual horizontal cream stripes. In early summer it will have light feathery flowers that add texture and can also be dried and used for indoor arrangements. In autumn, the leaves slowly turn a reddish-brown, making this an easy way to add subtle year-round interest to your outdoor space.

Miscanthus is really easy to look after. It likes sun or dappled shade and it prefers its soil to stay moist. It doesn’t need much in the way of year round attention but it’s important to know that it's deciduous, and dies back or goes into dormancy over Winter. It's a good idea to cut back dead leaves in early spring, to make way for new ones. 

Miscanthus is grown in gardens all over the world for its simple, architectural forms and resistance to cold. Some wild versions can grow as tall as 4 metres. This one could reach that height if you let it, but it’s easy to keep it more compact with yearly pruning.

Did you know?

Miscanthus is sometimes known as elephant grass because it grows so tall.