Miscanthus sinensis Ghana - Silvergrass

Miscanthus sinensis 'Ghana' is a splendour in autumn. This Chinese reed with an upright habit truly stands out in borders with its remarkable foliage, where shades of fawn, purple, chocolate, and reddish-orange, all compete for brilliance on leaves that are supple and silky like ribbons. Far from being left out, its late summer flowering bursts into narrow, feathery panicles in a purplish to reddish hue, then gently fades to a bronzish silver. It is a sumptuous perennial grass with a slightly spreading stump, growing slowly but surely. It remains decorative until the heart of winter when its plumes are finely powdered with frost.

The 'Ghana' eulalia belongs to the Poaceae family. It is a horticultural form 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 grass, with short rootstocks, forms a fairly narrow tuft with an upright and trailing habit, reaching a height of 1.2 to 1.4m (4 to 5ft), with a spread of 70 to 80cm (28 to 32in). This plant has marcescent foliage, meaning that it remains attached to the stump, although lifeless. The leaves are thin, very long, and flexible. They are initially light green in colour, then multicoloured in autumn. Long floral stems emerge from the foliage from August to October and persist until November-December. The flowering takes the form of silky digitate spikes, 20 to 30cm (8 to 12in) long, in deep rose-red to silvery hues. When wilting, they take on a brushed silver-brown colour. The plumes are made up of tiny flowers that close slightly after opening, only to open again when mature. They then take on a paler and more feathery appearance.

This highly colourful eulalia has deciduous foliage but remains decorative for much of the winter. It is ideal for large borders, to which its strong presence brings structure and grace. It is also suitable for wild gardens and contemplative gardeners. Just plant it among asters, behind garden chrysanthemums, or perpetual roses. Watch it grow and expand, play with the wind and the low autumn light, and bend under rain showers. In winter, it lights up the garden with its reassuring silhouette. It has its place in modern gardens with clean lines, accompanied by bamboo or ferns if the soil is moist. Miscanthus is well suited for hedge planting, providing a screen along a path, isolating a part of the garden, or simply hiding the view of the street or a neighbour's garden. In this usage, they offer a somewhat surreal walk in the midst of vegetation. These grasses bring volume and texture to the boundaries of the garden, creating a natural transition to open areas. In an urban garden, Miscanthus 'Ghana' softens concrete structures. Cultivation in large containers is also possible. It is perfect for 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 to produce biofuel.