Miscanthus sinensis Morning Bright - Silvergrass

Miscanthus sinensis Morning Bright 'Mobri' is a new and fascinating variety of Chinese reed. This tall grass unfolds like a graceful fountain, with long, very thin leaves that are strongly striated and variegated with white, giving it a somewhat unreal silver appearance, especially when the wind creates waves. Its late summer flowering, initially silver-pink, fades to white at maturity and remains decorative on the plant for a long time. The eulalia is not invasive. Its inflorescences are perfect for dried bouquets. It is truly easy to grow in any ordinary soil that is not too dry, in a very sunny location.

It belongs to the large Poaceae family. It is a recent German horticultural selection, derived from Miscanthus sinensis, a plant native to extreme eastern Asia and Oceania. This grass with short rhizomes develops in a non-trailing clump. It is tufted and its growth is moderately slow during the first two years. The habit is both erect and trailing, reaching 1.4m (5ft) in height, with a spread of 70cm (28in). The leaves are particularly thin, very long, and flexible, with a green-grey colour veined with white. They are widely bordered with white along their entire length, giving the foliage a white-silver look. Long floral stems emerge from the foliage in August-September and persist on the culms until November, in the form of silky digitate spikes 20cm (8in) long. They are tinted pink with white. As they fade, they take on a silvery hue.

It is a fabulous plant for borders, with a stunning effect. The white-green variegation is visible up close, but when you step back, the delicate, constantly moving foliage casts a soft silver-grey light. This sculptural grass can be used in a wild border, to divide a garden or in contrast with varied geometric shapes in a modern, minimalist garden. Miscanthus pairs well with perennials such as daylilies, tall asters, dahlias, giant sunflowers, and bamboo or ferns if the soil remains moist in summer.

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.