Miscanthus

For the bigger garden the Japanese silver grasses are unsurpassed. With over 100 cultivated forms, there are now plenty of small forms for all. They can thrive in challenging conditions, ideally in full sun on an average soil. Too much water and fertility may promote a lot of floppy growth. Flowering can start in late summer, through autumn. Often initially red, before turning silvery and holding themselves upright throughout winter. Foliage tend to be upright, but can arch over and some forms have superb autumn colour. Although the colour may fade, the plants can stand for months after, providing much needed structure and habitats for much of cold months. M. sinensis is clump-forming (most of ours are derived from this species), whereas others, like M. sacchariflorus are more spreading. In the home of most Miscanthus, Japan, they along with maples, are a symbol of autumn.

Overwintering tussocks of all clump-forming Miscanthus are important, sheltered hibernation sites for many beneficial predatory insects such as ladybirds, and the copious seeds in the showy seed-heads are favoured by greenfinches and goldfinches.