Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis) profile

Chinese silver grass, Miscanthus sinensis CV., is a perennial herb belonging to the family Gramineae of the Angiosperm family. Growing environment: Altitude: 350-1500m. Environment: Grassland on the hillside. Cultivated: Wild. Distribution: Northeast China, North China and Jiangsu, Anhui Huangshan, Zhejiang Tianmu Mountain.

Chinese silver grass picture

Morphological characteristics of Chinese silver grass

Leaf

Chinese silver grass, perennial leaves erect, slender, arched at the top, leaf sheaths longer than internodes, glabrous except for the mouth and upper margin of the sheath with villous hairs; Ligule is slightly thick, apex obtuse, margin rodent, 1 -- 2 mm long; Leaf blade is linear, 20 -- 70 cm long, 5 -- 15 mm wide, glabrous except for villous or tuberculate hairs at the base, or sometimes sparsely pubescent and pinkish-white at the back.

Flowers

Chinese silver grass panicle is fan-shaped, 15 -- 40 cm long, the main shaft glabrous or short hairy, extending only below the middle of the inflorescence, with 10 -- 30 branches; Branches are stronger, 10-35 cm long, obliquely ascending or slightly spreading, each node with 1 short stalk and 1 long stalk spikelet, sometimes with 3 or 4 spikelets on the same node at the base of the cob; Cob internodes are 4 -- 10 mm long, glabrous; Spikelet stalks are glabrous, shorter ones 1.5 -- 2(-3) mm long, older ones 4 -- 6 mm long, often spreading outward; Spikelets of chinese silver grass are lanceolate, 4-5 mm long, base plate has light yellowish brown or nearly white filamentous long hair, its hair slightly longer than spikelets or with spikelets equal length; First glume is papery, lanceolate, with 3 veins, side veins ridged, back smooth and glabrous; Second spikelets are navicular, apex acuminate, middle upper margin with small cilia; 1st lemma is lanceolate, membranous transparent, slightly shorter than glume, apex acute, margin with small cilia; 2nd lemma is narrowly lanceolate, ca. 3.2 mm long, membranous transparent, margin with a few small cilia, apex 2-lobed to 1/3 or slightly inferior, awn between teeth; Awn knee bend, 8-10 mm long, awn slightly twisted column;Lemma usually absent; Chinese silver grass has 3 stamens, anthers brownish yellow, ca. 2.2 mm long; Stigma is purplish black; Spikelets with long stalks are similar to those with short stalks.

Ecological habits of Chinese silver grass

Chinese silver grass can withstand half shade, drought and waterlogging.

Chinese silver grass care

The leaves of Chinese silver grass are slender and have a novel texture. It can be used as the background plants of the flower border, and can also be planted in rows to divide the space, or configured with rocks, and matched with a variety of plants. It is planted on the side of the road, the path, the shore, and the sparse forest, etc., which is of wild interest.

Chinese silver grass is drought and waterlogging tolerant, semi-shade tolerant, light loving, and grows well in full sunshine to light shade. Chinese silver grass is suitable for planting in well-drained soil. Excess drought in summer can easily lead to scorched leaf tips.

Chinese silver grass is an ornamental grass, which is drought-tolerant and does not choose soil. Therefore, peat, coconut bran and perlite are usually mixed with a ratio of 4:5:1 to increase soil permeability, and then the root system covers the whole matrix. During the growth period, light, temperature, water and so on are strictly controlled, and foliar fertilizer and slow-release fertilizer are added in time to provide sufficient nutrients for plants. At the same time, in order to ensure the beauty of the plant shape, the fertilizer of more than 3 months should be added in advance.

Chinese silver grass disease & pests 

Miscanthus mealybug (insect) and rust (fungal disease) are possible problems.

Chinese silver grass can go to seed and spread into natural areas.  In some areas, it is considered invasive.

Chinese silver grass varities

Adagio silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'): A compact cultivar developing four ft tall (5 toes in flower); plants are rosy pink; leaves have some burgundy shade in fall; hardy to region 5.

Autumn Light silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Autumn Light'): Grows to 7 toes tall (8 toes in flower); reddish purple plants in late summer; hardy to region 5.

Blondo silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Blondo'): Grows to 6 feet; yellowing plants mature to silvery white; coarse foliage; hardy to region 4.

Bluetenwunder (Wonder Blooms) silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Bluetenwunder'): Grows 5 to 6 ft tall; a heavy bloomer with pinkish white flowers; golden brown fall color; drought tolerant; hardy to area 5.

Dixieland silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Dixieland'): A compact cultivar developing four to 5 toes tall; pinkish flowers; inexperienced and white variegated foliage; hardy to sector 4.

Dwarf maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Yaku Jima'): A dwarf cultivar that grows three to four toes tall; tan plant life with a purple tinge emerge in late summer; hardy to quarter 5.

Flame grass (sold as Miscanthus sinensis 'Purpurescens', however now categorised as Miscanthus 'Purpurescens'): Grows four to 5 ft tall; plant life tinged with purple emerge in late summer; foliage turns orange pink in fall and then adjustments to a darker purple for winter, serving as a backdrop for the cream-colored seed heads; hardy to sector 4.

Gold Bar silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Gold Bar'): A compact cultivar developing four to 5 ft tall; burgundy plants show up late (in autumn); inexperienced foliage with horizontal gold banding; hardy to area 5.

Gold und Silber (Gold and Silver) silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Gold und Silber'): A greater slim form, developing 5 to 6 toes tall; gold vegetation show up late (autumn) and mature to silver; hardy to region 5.

Gracillimus maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'): A excellent textured cultivar with skinny leaves; grows 5 to 6 toes tall; deep red to copper flora in late summer; yellow fall color; drought tolerant; hardy to quarter 5.

Graziella silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Graziella'): A pleasant textetured cultivar with skinny leaves; grows four to 5 toes tall (6 ft tall in flower); silvery white plants in mid-summer; coppery crimson fall foliage color; hardy to sector 5.

Little Kitten dwarf silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Kitten'): A dwarf cultivar, growing 1 half of to two ft tall (3 ft tall in flower); arching, mounded form; silvery white plant life with a trace of pink; fall foliage shade is golden; hardy to sector 5.

Little Zebra silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Zebra'): A dwarf cultivar, developing three toes tall (4 toes in flower); reddish-purple flora in early autumn; inexperienced foliage with horizontal gold banding; hardy to region 4.

Malepartus silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Malepartus'): Grows 5 toes tall (7 toes in flower); plants in midsummer and plant life begin out pink, then alternate to pink and then silver as they mature; fall foliage shade is bronze; drought tolerant; hardy to region 5.

Morning Light silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'): A satisfactory textured cultivar with thin, silver-variegated foliage; grows 5 to 6 toes tall; bronzy plant life show up in mid-fall; hardy to region 5.

Nippon silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Nippon'): Grows four to 5 ft tall; plant life in midsummer, with the vegetation beginning out red and then altering to red, and ultimately white at maturity; fall foliage shade is reddish-bronze; hardy to area 5.

Porcupine grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'): Grows 5 to 7 toes tall (up to eight toes in flower); coppery flora produced in early fall; inexperienced leaves with gold banding; common shape is greater stiff and upright; hardy to area 5.

Rotsilber (Red-silver) maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Rotsilber'): Grows four to 6 toes tall (7 ft in flower); plants emerge pink-red and mature to silver; fall foliage colour is orange-red; hardy to sector 4.

Sarabande maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Sarabande'): A cultivar with slender leaves and a finer normal textrure; four to 5 toes tall (6 ft in flower); gold-copper coloured flora show up in late summer season and mature to silvery white; hardy to quarter 5.

Silberfeder (Silver Feather) silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder'): This cultivar grows 5 toes tall (7 toes when in flower) and has a greater relaxed, arching habit; massive clusters of silvery plants in late summer, held nicely above the foliage; hardy to region 5.

Variegated silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus'): Grows 5 to 6 ft tall (7 toes in flower); red-tinged vegetation show up in early fall; inexperienced leaves with white stripes; the shape can be a little floppy; hardy to area 4.

Zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'): Grows 5 to 7 toes tall (up to eight toes in flower); coppery plants produced in early fall; inexperienced leaves with gold banding; normal shape is free and relaxed; hardy to area 5.

The distribution area of Chinese silver grass

Chinese silver grass is produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan and other provinces and regions.

Chinese silver grass is also found in North Korea and Japan.

Landscape use of Chinese silver grass

Chinese silver grass is used as ornamental grass in gardens. Culm fiber is widely used as raw materials for paper making, etc.