Leaf
David J. Stang, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chinese silver grass
Miscanthus sinensis Andersson
Also known as: Eulalia, Maiden grass, Miscanthus
Family: Poaceae
1.50 to 2.50 m tall
Grown in borders and as a specimen, moist, rich soils
Flowering: September – October
Full sun
Hardy, to about -20°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Chinese silver grass is one of the most widely planted ornamental grasses in the world — its large silvery panicles appear in late summer and remain decorative, standing upright, well into winter.
🍃 Leaves
Long, strap-like, arching, often striped with white depending on variety
🌸 Flowers
Large silky silvery to pinkish panicles, very decorative late in the season
🍎 Fruits
Small caryopsis
🪵 Bark
Dense herbaceous clump, rigid upright stems
🗺️ Distribution
Native to East Asia; very widely grown in France as a major ornamental grass
🐝 Value for pollinators
Wind-pollinated, little interest for pollinators
✂️ Horticultural uses
Large ornamental grass planted as a specimen or in borders for its imposing silvery late-summer panicles and its autumn foliage
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No notable known toxicity
🌿 Other Poaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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