Growing guide · Grasses

Miscanthus sinensis

How to grow Maiden Grass 'Gracillimus'.

The fine-textured original. Moves with every breeze.

Light
Full sun, part sun
Water
Low
Zones
5–9
Size
5–6 ft tall (taller in bloom), 3–5 ft wide
Spacing
4–5 ft apart; 3 ft for a screen.
Pets
Not on the ASPCA pet-safe list; keep it out of reach
Tall arching clump of narrow green grass blades with feathery coppery-silver plumes

Light

Full sun. In shade it flops open and blooms poorly.

Water

Water weekly the first summer. Drought tolerant once established.

Planting and soil

Plant spring or early fall, crown at soil level, in well-drained soil.

Feeding

Not needed. Extra nitrogen makes it floppy.

Pruning

Cut all foliage to 4–6 in. in late winter. Use hedge shears and gloves; the blades are sharp-edged.

Through the year

Greens up in late spring. Plumes in September. Tan foliage and silver plumes all winter.

If something's off

Miscanthus self-seeds and is invasive in parts of the East and Midwest; check your state before planting near natural areas. Old clumps die out in the middle; divide in spring.

Plays well with

Plant it with friends.

Cutleaf Coneflower 'Herbstsonne'
Rudbeckia laciniata 'Herbstsonne'Cutleaf Coneflower 'Herbstsonne' from $44.99

Why we stock it: A classic screening grass with the finest texture of the big maiden grasses.

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

Know someone with the right spot? Send them this.

Kits with Maiden Grass 'Gracillimus'.

All plant kits →
The Sunday Tip · every Sunday

One good plant idea,
every Sunday.

What to plant this week in your zone, every Sunday. New ways to plant and odd tricks that actually work.