Miscanthus sinensis China - Silvergrass

Miscanthus sinensis 'China', also known as Chinese silver grass or Chinese reed, stands out especially for its more compact habit than the species and its reddish-brown flower spikes that turn pink and then silver. It is decorative from summer until the first frost. The olive-green foliage is particularly fine, with coppery hues in autumn. This plant is interesting from late summer to the heart of winter, when its plumes are delicately frosted. This plant is not invasive. It is easy to grow in any ordinary soil that is not too dry or wet, in full sun. Its inflorescences are perfect for dried bouquets.

Chinese silver grass belongs to the Poaceae family. It is a horticultural selection derived from Miscanthus sinensis, native to China (in the pan-Himalayan region up to 2000m (6562ft) altitude), Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, and New Zealand. This perennial and clump-forming (meaning that its rhizomes do not spread) grass, with short rhizomes, forms a strong tuft with a compact habit, both upright and trailing. It will not exceed 1.5m (5ft) in height when flowering, with a minimum spread of 70cm (28in). The particularly fine leaves are ribbon-like, very long, and flexible. They are initially olive-green and then coppery in autumn. Long flower stalks emerge from the foliage from September to November, in the form of silky, digitate, reddish-brown spikes measuring 20 to 30cm (8 to 12in) long. The flowers open in pink, and as they fade, they take on a silvery hue. The plumes are made up of tiny flowers that close a little after blooming, only to reopen when fully mature. They then take on a paler and fluffier appearance.

Among ornamental grasses, miscanthus is probably one of the most beautiful and least invasive. It has been the subject of numerous selections and has given rise to many cultivars. They all share a silhouette with an upright, regular, and arching clump, with long leaves with a light central stripe, turning straw yellow in winter. It is also a wonderful perennial that grows by itself, perfect for contemplative gardeners, and has a place in a modern garden with clean lines, or in large ensembles where it lightens the floral displays, leaving a sense of freedom in its wake. It is perfect for large borders, to which its strong presence brings structure and grace. In winter, it lights up the garden with its reassuring silhouette. Miscanthus is well suited for planting as a hedge, creating a screen along a pathway, isolating a part of the garden, or simply blocking the view of the street or a neighbour's garden. In this use, they offer a somewhat unreal walk through the vegetation. These grasses add volume and texture to the boundaries of the garden, naturally transitioning to the open areas. In an urban garden, Chinese silver grass softens concrete structures. It will look magnificent near a body of water, in well-drained soil. Planting in large containers on a patio is also suitable. Chinese silver grass can also be used to create beautiful dried bouquets.

Some varieties of miscanthus are currently being studied, as they offer real prospects for the creation of standing crop or fibre panels. These plants have several advantages: they do not deplete the soil, tolerate polluted soils well, and can be incinerated or even used for the production of biofuel