Miscanthus seed Silberspinne

LATIN NAME: MISCANTHUS SINENSIS

COMMON NAME: Silver Grass

The silver grass fountains the tall, clumping, ornamental grass with the arching, narrow, green leaves that carry the pale midribs and the tall, silky, fan-shaped plumes of the flower heads that rise above the foliage through the late summer, the plumes silvering and fountain-spreading over the clump and holding into the winter, the small grains following. The grass grows into the bold, fountain-like mound, and it stands the cold and the dry spells well. It likes the sun, and the well-drained soil.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The tall, silky plumes of the silver grass give it a recognised place in the research on the ornamental and energy grasses of the grass family, and the sinensis species appears in the studies of the biomass chemistry and the low-input growth. The work looks at the way the clump fountains the plumes, the winter structure, and the seed biology. The agronomists note the fast biomass, and the growers of the ornamental and biomass grasses keep the species in their catalogues.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

In the sunny border and the naturalistic planting, the silver grass fountains the late-summer garden with the silky plumes. The plumes catch the light and the frost and hold the structure through the cold months, the grass screens and shelters, and the biomass serves the fuels and the mulches. It grows well in the well-drained, sunny ground. Bold, silver-plumed and winter-standing.

To grow the Silver Grass from seed, sow the tiny seeds over the gritty surface of the tray, then press them in, keep the tray bright and just-moist, and the seedlings spring up within a week or two.

Keep the tray bright and just-moist, and pot the seedlings on as they grow. The fountain plumes come within the season or two. Plant the young clumps in the sunny, open ground, and the fountain plumes will silver over the late summer.

Description:Of the most treasured plants in landscape design, these glorious but simple grasses provide structure and movement to your garden year-round. Maiden Hair Grass grows to a mature height of 5-7 feet in ideal conditions with a spread of about 36 inches. Silberspinne (or Silver Spider) has narrow green foliage complimented by the silver wide-open flower heads. In late summer/early fall as plants set seed, the flower heads take on a ruby glow before opening up to disperse their seeds.

Uses: Perennial in zones 5-9. Plants prefer full sun but will tolerate some shade. A good amount of space is a must and they prefer a moist soil for best performance, though they are relatively drought tolerant. Plants flower the second season when grown from seed. Excellent for adding height, movement and winter interest to garden. Works well as a specimen planting or in combination with other plantings. Provides privacy when used as a temporary hedging. The flowers are useful in cut arrangements and are particularly beautiful in combination with purple coneflower and other late season blooms.