Thursday, January 21, 2010

MISCANTHUS

Require full sun and grow thin & lanky in shade. They prefer full sun on deep, fertile soil and can tolerate some drought but not consistantly dry soil. They are tolerant of heat, flooding and wind. Deer do NOT eat Miscanthus, which are rarely prone to pests or disease.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 ( zone 4 if protected ). Miscanthus have been known to survive in zone 3a in northwest Ontario, Canada with winter snow cover and mulch. Deer resistant. Miscanthus should either be pruned back to 6 inches from ground in fall once the foliage dries up or in early spring before new growth begins. In the cold zones it is important not to cut it too close to the ground before mid March as the lower foliage protects the crown from severe cold.

* photos taken on 4th of July 2010 in Washington, D.C.


* photos taken on Sep 19 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 21 2016 in Columbia, MD


Miscanthus floridulus ( Giant Eulalia )
A massive grass growing extremely vigorously, reaching its full height of up to 16 feet by July. The "corn stalk like" canes are up to 2 inches in diameter and the clumps reach up to 10 feet in width. It is native to far eastern Asia from the Ryukyu Islands to Taiwan.
The green leaf blades are up to 36 x 1.5 inches in size.
The foliage turns tan color after the first fall frost and is very persistant in the winter, looking attractive standing against the snow.
The plumes from October to January are silvery in color.
Hardy north to zone 4

* photos taken on Oct 19 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 14 2015 in Baltimore Co., MD

* photo taken on Sep 20 2017 in Columbia, MD


Miscanthus sinensis
A massive clumping perennial grass, reaching up to 13 x 6 feet while in full bloom, that is native to southern and eastern China, Korea and Japan.
The leaf blades, up to 32 x 0.8 inches in size, are blue-green with a white midrib. They are toothed on the margin and hairy below.
Hardy north to zone 4 unless noted.

* photo of unknown internet source

* photo taken on Oct 19 2015 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on Oct 30 2018 in Annapolis, MD


'Adagio'
A vigorous but "dwarf" Miscanthus reaching a maximum size of only 5 x 5 feet. The very dense thin summer foliage is mid green with a pronounced white midrib. The foliage turns golden in fall.
The blooms are pinkish, maturing to white.
Hardy zones 4 to 9. Drought tolerant.

* photo taken on September 23 2010 in Clarksville, MD


'Allegro'
Reaches up to 5 feet with very fine foliage that turns an excellent orange autumn color.
Hardy zones 6 to 9

'Andante'
Reaches up to 7 feet with attractive flower plumes, reaching up to 8 feet high, that are pink turning silver.
A Kurt Bluemel introduction.
Hardy zones 6 to 9

'Arabesque'
A medium size Miscanthus with a foliar clump reaching up to 5 x 8 feet. The copper colored plumes in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 8 feet.

* photo taken on Sep 25 2013 in Howard Co., MD


'Autumn Light'
A large size Miscanthus with a foliar clump reaching up to 8 x 6 feet.
The narrow foliage colors nicely to yellow and red during autumn.
The intense colored plumes in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 9 feet.
Hardy north to zone 4

'Bandwidth'
Fast growing but compact and upright in habit, with a foliage clump reaching up to 3 x 2 feet in 3 years.
The narrow foliage is bright green and heavily banded golden-yellow.
It often has golden-brown plumes reaching up to 4 feet during autumn but has been bred to not produce any seed.
Hardy zones 5 to 9, this cultivar is highly rust resistant.

* photo taken on Oct 2 2021 in Burtonsville, MD

* photos taken on Aug 26 2023 in Columbia, MD


'Blondo'
Forms a dense clump, reaching a maximum size of 7 x 6 feet with coarse mid-green foliage that has a bold white midrib. The foliage turns an attractive wheat-brown during autumn.
The very attractive feathery flower plumes, up to 9 feet high, are silvery-white.
Hardy zones 4 to 9, it is among the hardiest of all Miscanthus cultivars, even reported to thrive in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

* photos taken on Sep 23 2010 in Columbia, MD


* photos taken on Sep 3 2013 in Catonsville, MD


'Cabaret'
A large Miscanthus with a striking foliar clump reaching up to 8 x 6 feet.
The leaf blades are wide ( up to 1.3 inches in width ) and are green with a wide creamy-white margin. The deep pink flower plumes reach as high as 9 feet.

* photo taken on July 4 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on July 30 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 17 2013 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on June 16 2019 in Elkridge, MD


'Condensatus'
A vigorous large Miscanthus of erect habit with a foliar clump reaching up to 7 x 6 feet.
The foliage is wide - up to 1.7 inches in width. The leaf blades are blue-green below. This subspecies is the parent of many wide-leaved cultivars such as Cabaret and Cosmopolitan.
The plumes in summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 10 feet. It is an early but long season bloomer with the plumes turning golden-tan in autumn and winter.
Hardy north to zone 4. Drought tolerant.

'Cosmopolitan'
A very fast growing, large Miscanthus with a striking foliar clump reaching up to 9 x 12 ( rarely over 8 x 8 ) feet.
The leaf blades are very wide ( up to 2 inches in width ) and are green with a bold wide creamy-white margin. The foliage remains green very late into autumn.
The flower plumes reach as high as 10 feet.

* photos taken on 4th of July 2010 in Washington, D.C.

* photos taken on Aug 20 2012 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Oct 22 2012 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Sep 22 2013 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on June 2015 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Nov 9 2017 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on Oct 29 2023 in larksville, MD


'Dixieland'
The "dwarf", more prolific flowering form of Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus'; forming a striking foliar clump reaching up to 5 x 7 feet.
The leaf blades are bright green and boldly vertically striped white.
The flower plumes reach as high as 7 feet.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade. Drought tolerant.

* photo taken on June 26 2011 in Harford County, MD

* photo taken on Sep 4 2011 in Harford Co, MD

* photos taken on Aug 20 2012 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on Aug 17 2012 in Columbia, MD


* photo taken on July 15 2013 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on July 25 2015 @ Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

* photo taken on July 16 2018 in Midland, ON

* photo taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario


'Emerald Shadow'
A strong grower, reaching up to 9 feet, with foliage resembling 'Cosmopolitan' but reverse in color. The flower inflorescences are pink.
Hardy zones 7 to 9

'Ferner Osten'
Also called 'Far East'. A "dwarf" but vigorous Miscanthus reaching a maximum size of only 6.5 ( rarely over 5.5 ) x 4 feet.
The thin summer foliage is dark green with a bright silvery white midrib. The foliage turns to coppery-orange during autumn.
The blooms in early to mid fall are reddish, eventually fading to silver.

* photo taken on Oct 4 2021 in Columbia, MD


'Flamingo'
Very graceful in habit, reaching up to 6 x 6.5 feet with luxuriant glossy deep green foliage with a pronounced white midrib.
The very showy, large, open, intense bright pink flower plumes, reaching up to 7 feet high, are borne abundantly early to mid autumn.

'Flower Wonder'
Reaches up to 7 feet and profusely producing attractive silvery inflorescences.
Hardy zones 4 to 9

'Giganteus'
Good for screening; this massive "Miscanthus on roids" reaches a maximum height of 15 feet while in bloom. It is very fast growing and has potential as a biomass crop.
The foliage is blue-green. The leaves are up to 40 x 1.2 inches in size.
Hardy zones 4a +.

* photos taken on Dec 1 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 27 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 11 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 20 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 16 2023 in Columbia, MD


'Gildid Tower'
A variegated form of Miscanthus sinensis 'Giganteus', reaching up to 10 x 7 feet in 7 years, eventually slightly wider.
The broad leaves, up to 15 x 1 inch, are deep green broadly margined and centered striped bright yellow.
Hardy zones 4a+

'Gold Bar'
A "dwarf" Miscanthus with a very upright foliar clump reaching up to 5 x 3 ( rarely over 3.5 ) feet.
It is the dwarf version of Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'
The wide leaf blades are arching and are green with distinct bold golden-yellow horizontal bands. The foliage turns entirely tan color after the first fall frost. The burgundy plumes in late summer reach above the foliage.
Hardy zones 4 to 9. Thrives in full sun or partial shade and even tolerates boggy soil and salty coastal marshy sites.

* photos taken on Oct 17 2013 in Olney, MD

* gold bar miscanthus in Ottawa, ON

* patent photo


'Goliath'
A "Miscanthus on Steroids" that forms a massive clump of green foliage up to 9 x 6 + feet in size, bearing large leaves up to 1 inch across.
The large pinkish plumes in early autumn reach well above the foliage to a maximum height of 12 feet.
Hardy north to zone 4

'Gracillimus' ( Maiden Grass )
A large Miscanthus with a striking foliar clump reaching up to 7 x 9 feet. The narrow, delicate looking, gracefully arching foliage is luxuriant green. The foliage turns orange color in autumn.
The silvery color plumes in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 8 feet. It can seed profusely and can occasionally become invasive.
Hardy north to zone 4. Drought tolerant.

* photo taken on July 2005 in Howard Co, MD


* photo taken on August 2 2010 in Bayfield, Ontario



* photo taken on June 7 2012 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Aug 12 2016 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on July 16 2018 in Midland, ON


'Graziella'
A large Miscanthus with a striking foliar clump reaching up to 6 x 8 feet. The narrow, delicate looking, gracefully arching foliage is luxuriant green with a thin silver midrib. The foliage turns orange-red during autumn.
The huge white plumes in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 7 feet and are earlier than the similar Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'. It can seed profusely and can occasionally become invasive.
Hardy north to zone 4

'Huron Sunrise'
Reaches up to 6 x 4 feet, with fine-textured foliage that is mid-green, with a silvery midrib. The foliage turns to golden-yellow during autumn.
The very abundant, showy, rich reddish-pink plumes appear mid to late summer, lasting well into autumn. This sturdy Miscanthus keeps its shape well providing much winter interest.
Hardy zones 4 to 8, it is among the hardiest Miscanthus, known to grow in the northern Great Plains as far north as Calgary.

'Kaskade'
A large, upright Miscanthus with a foliar clump reaching up to 7 x 7 feet, with narrow leaf blades which turn orangish-red during autumn.
The large, cascading pink plumes in summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 8.5 feet.
Among the hardiest forms, it is hardy north to Vermont.

'Little Kitten'
A "dwarf" Miscanthus with a foliage clump only reaching up to 3 x 4 feet.
The attractive narrow foliage is green and white.

'Little Zebra'
The "dwarf" form of Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'; it is small Miscanthus with a foliar clump reaching up to 5 x 7 feet.
The wide leaf blades are arching and are green with distinct golden-yellow horizontal bands. The foliage is less prone to rust spots than either 'Strictus' or 'Zebrinus'.
The in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 6 feet.
They are reddish-purple, turning to tan color in fall and winter.




* photos taken on August 2 2010 in Bayfield, Ontario


* photo taken on Jul 21 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 7 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 13 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 28 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 2 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 19 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 29 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 7 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 30 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 20 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 26 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 5 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 18 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 15 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 9 2022 in Bayfield, ON


'Malepartus'
A large robust growing Miscanthus with a foliar clump reaching up to 4 x 5 feet.
The medium width foliage is deep green in summer, turning to orange in autumn.
The striking large plumes are pinkish purple turning silvery in early fall and reach above the foliage to a total height of 8 feet.
Hardy north to zone 4. Drought tolerant.

* photo taken on August 1 2010 in Leamington, Ontario


'Morning Light'
A large Miscanthus with a striking foliar clump reaching up to 6 x 8 feet. The narrow, delicate looking, gracefully arching foliage is luxuriant green and margined white. The foliage turns orange color in autumn. It is basically a variegated form of Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'
The creamy white plumes in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 8 feet.
Hardy north to zone 4. Drought tolerant.

* photos taken on June 19 2010 in Columbia, MD


* photo taken on July 17 2010 @ Morris Arboretum, Philly, PA

* photo taken on August 3 2010 @ University of Guelph Arboretum, Ontario

* photo taken on August 5 2010 in Windsor, Ontario

* photo taken on Aug 1 2011 in Luzerne Co, PA

* photos taken on Aug 3 2011 in Columbia, MD



* photos taken on Oct 5 2011 in Columbia, MD



* photos taken on June 8 2012 in Ellicott City, MD
* photos taken on July 30 2012 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on Aug 15 2013 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on June 1 2014 @ Maryland Horticulturalist Society garden tour, Clarksville

* photo taken on Aug 1 2014 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on Aug 25 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 21 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 28 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 8 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on June 30 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 22 2023 in Columbia, MD


'November Sunset'
A large-size Miscanthus with a foliar clump reaching up to 6 x 8 feet.
The narrow foliage is bright green in summer and turns to intense orangish-yellow in autumn.
The huge silvery plumes late in autumn reach above the foliage to a total height of 8 feet. A Kurt Bluemel introduction.
Hardy zones 5 +, it is tolerant of drought and partial shade.

* photo taken on Nov 13 2020 in Columbia, MD


'Positano'
Reaches up to 7 feet with a graceful habit and excellent autumn color.
The red flower plumes are borne early to mid autumn.
Among the hardiest forms, it is hardy north to Vermont.

'Puenktchen' ( Little Dot Silver Grass )
A medium size Miscanthus with a foliar clump reaching up to 4.5 x 6 feet.
The arching leaf blades are green with distinct golden-yellow horizontal bands.
It is similar to Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' except for having narrower finer foliage and being of smaller stature.
The plumes in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 7 ( 9 ) feet.
Hardy north to zone 4. Drought tolerant.

'Purpurascens' ( Flame Grass )
A large size Miscanthus with a foliar clump reaching up to 5 x 6 feet.
The foliage ( up to 0.5 inches in width ) turning from deep green to intense fiery orange-red in August into autumn. The fall foliage is spectacular when back-lit by setting sun.
The plumes reach above the foliage to a total height of 6 feet.
The perfect plant to liven up a landscape that looks tired after a long hot summer.
Hardy north to zone 3 ,including much of the northern Great Plains. The clone 'Herkules' is faster growing, to 6 feet in height, with excellent red autumn foliage.

* photo taken on Sep 25 2013 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on Oct 31 2018 @ Howard Comm College, Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 6 2021 in Howard County, MD

* photo taken on Nov 18 2023 in Odenton, MD


'Red Arrow'
Also called 'Roterpfeil'. Fast growing, reaching up to 6.5 feet with foliage that turns to orange-red in autumn and showy reddish-bronze flower plumes.
Hardy zones 5 +.

'Roland'
Forms a clump up to 9 feet with broad leaf blades and large pinkish-purple flower plumes, up to 10 feet high, borne late summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 5 +

'Rotsilber'
Also caled 'Red-Silver'. A large size Miscanthus with a foliar clump reaching up to 7 x 6 feet.
The foliage is silvery-green in summer and turning intense orange-red in autumn.
The abundant reddish plumes from August to November reach up to a total height of 6 feet.
Drought tolerant.

* photos taken on oct 5 2020 in Howard Co., MD


'Sarabande'
A medium size Miscanthus with a striking foliar clump reaching up to 6 x 6 feet. The fine narrow, delicate looking, gracefully arching foliage is similar to that of Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' but is instead silvery.
The foliage emerges earlier in spring than most Miscanthus.
The plumes in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 6.6 feet.
A Kurt Bluemel introduction.
Hardy north to zone 4. Drought tolerant.

'Silver Arrow'
A large Miscanthus with a striking foliar clump reaching up to 7 x 6 feet.
The leaf blades are green and boldly margined white. It is similar to Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus' except that it has even brighter variegation on it's 0.5 inch wide foliage and it less likely to flop over.
The reddish plumes in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 8 feet.
Hardy north to zone 4

* photo taken on August 2 2010 in Bayfield, Ontario

* photo taken on August 5 2010 in Windsor, Ontario

* photos taken on Aug 1 2011 in Luzerne Co, PA


* photo taken on Oct 17 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 6 2022 in Columbia, MD


'Silver Feather'
A vigorous large size Miscanthus with a foliar clump reaching up to 7 x 6 feet.
The foliage is wide - up to an inch in width. The leaf blades are green with a silver stripe in the center.
The arching silky white plumes in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 10 feet, they last through the winter.
Hardy north to zone 4. Drought tolerant.

* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.




* photos taken on Nov 11 2010 in Columbia, MD



* photos taken on Oct 13 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 9 2020 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on Oct 27 2021 in Columbia, MD


'Silver Tower'
Reaches up to 10 feet with excellent luxuriant green foliage and large silvery flower plumes from early to mid autumn.

'Strictus' ( Porcupine Grass )
A large Miscanthus with a foliar clump reaching up to 9 x 6.5 feet. It is similar to but more upright than 'Zebrinus'.
The wide leaf blades are arching and are green with distinct golden-yellow horizontal bands. The foliage turns entirely tan color after the first fall frost. The pink plumes in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 9 feet.
Hardy north to zone 4. Drought tolerant.

* photo taken on July 13 2019 in Columbia, MD


'Super Stripe'
Upright in habit, reaching up to 4 x 5 ( 7 in bloom ) feet in size.
The foliage is heavily horizontally banded golden-yellow.
The tawny-brown plumes appear during early fall.
Hardy zones 5 to 9.

'Variegata'
A large Miscanthus with a striking foliar clump reaching up to 7 x 10 feet.
The leaf blades are green and boldly margined white.
The flower plumes reach as high as 9 feet and are pale pink in September, later turning to beige.
Tolerant of partial shade. Drought tolerant.

* photo taken from Ellicott City, MD jobsite

* photo taken on Aug 30 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 1 2017 in Howard Co., MD

* photos taken on June 14 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 28 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 1 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 18 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 15 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 8 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 2 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 22 2023 in Columbia, MD


'Yaku Jima' ( Dwarf Maiden Grass )
A "dwarf" Miscanthus with a striking thick, full foliar clump very similar to Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' but only reaching up to 5 x 4 feet. The narrow, delicate looking, gracefully arching foliage is luxuriant green. The foliage turns orange color in autumn.
The silvery color plumes in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 8 feet. The blooms remain attractive into winter.
Hardy zones 4 to 9. Drought tolerant.

'Zebrinus' ( Zebra Miscanthus )
A large Miscanthus with a foliar clump reaching up to 7 x 10 feet.
The wide leaf blades are arching and are green with distinct golden-yellow horizontal bands. The yellowish-beige plumes in late summer reach above the foliage to a total height of 8 feet.
Drought tolerant.

* photos taken on August 2 2010 in Bayfield, Ontario




* photos taken on June 13 2011 in Columbia, MD


* photos taken on Aug 3 2011 in Columbia, MD


* photo taken on Oct 5 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 2 2013 in Goderich, Ontario

* photos taken on Aug 20 2016 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA

* photos taken on Aug 17 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 15 2022 in Columbia, MD


Miscanthus transmorrosonensis ( Evergreen Miscanthus )
A fast growing, large Miscanthus with a striking, dense, evergreen foliar clump reaching up to 7 x 5 feet, that is native to Taiwan.
The narrow, delicate looking, gracefully arching foliage is luxuriant glossy deep green.
The plumes from June to November reach above the foliage to a total height of 8 feet.
Native to Taiwan and is hardy from zones 6 to 10. Cut back in early spring before growth begins.

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