Growing guide · Grasses

Miscanthus sinensis

How to grow Maiden Grass 'NCMS2B (Bandwidth™)'.

Zebra stripes in a smaller frame.

Light
Full sun, part sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
5–9
Size
About 3 ft tall and wide; plumes to about 4 ft
Spacing
3 ft apart, or as a single accent.
Pets
Not on the ASPCA pet-safe list; keep it out of reach
See sizes · from $45.99
Compact clump of maiden grass with green blades crossed by horizontal yellow bands

Light

Full sun. In part shade the bands fade and the clump loosens.

Water

Water weekly the first summer. Established clumps handle dry spells.

Planting and soil

Plant in spring or early summer so roots settle before winter, crown at soil level.

Feeding

A little compost in spring is plenty.

Pruning

Cut to 4–6 in. in late winter, before new shoots appear.

Through the year

Slow to start in spring. Banding shows by early summer, plumes in late summer, tan foliage and seed heads through winter.

If something's off

The base can look a bit bare; tuck lower perennials in front. Miscanthus can seed around in some regions, so cut plumes before they shed if that's a concern where you live.

Plays well with

Plant it with friends.

Switch Grass 'Cheyenne Sky'
Panicum virgatumSwitch Grass 'Cheyenne Sky' from $61.99
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillarisPink Muhly Grass from $59.95
Betony 'Hummelo'
Stachys officinalisBetony 'Hummelo' from $30.99

Why we stock it: The banded maiden-grass look in a size that fits a normal yard.

That's everything we know about growing it. Thanks for reading.

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