Silvergrass (Miscanthus) Guide: How To Care For, Plant and Grow Silvergrass

Miscanthus sinensis is considered an invasive plant species in several states along the eastern seaboard and southeastern United States.⁴ Miscanthus sinensis propagates itself through seed dispersal via the wind and lateral rhizome growth.

Rhizomes are modified root stems that can grow horizontally and uncontrollably under the soil surface.

As long as you take precautions as to where you plant Miscanthus sinensis in your garden and home landscape then you shouldn’t have any issues with invasive overgrowth of this plant on your property. You could also consult an arborist or professional landscaper for guidance on how to strategically plant Miscanthus sinensis.

This comprehensive guide will provide you with all of the best tips on how to efficiently plant, row, and maintain Miscanthus sinensis as a decorative garden or landscape plant on your property.

To start, here is some basic data that you should know about Miscanthus sinensis.

Growing a Silvergrass From a Seed, Cutting, and Seedling

Take great care when growing Miscanthus sinensis on your own and your property. It is considered to be an invasive plant species in many American states.

For example, Miscanthus sinensis is considered a nuisance plant and invasive species in North Carolina amongst numerous other states.⁹

It cannot be stressed enough that you should consult with a professional landscaper or arborist before planting Miscanthus sinensis on your landscape or property.

Miscanthus sinensis can grow invasively and rapidly out of control without the implementation of strategic forethought as to where to plant it to contain and monitor growth. Even then, the plant could grow uncontrollably because its seeds are easily dispersed by the wind.

There are three ways to grow Miscanthus sinensis, either by seed, seedling, or planting a portion of rhizome cut from an existing plant.

Growing Miscanthus sinensis From Seed and Seedling

The easiest way for you to grow Miscanthus sinensis could be to secure a mature and blooming plant and cautiously shake the foliage over your preferred planting area.

You can also buy Miscanthus sinensis seeds from a physical or online nursery first. Ask for sterile, low-fertility, or hybridized Miscanthus sinensis seed species to reduce the potential for the plant to grow wildly out of control and invasively.

It must also be noted that it can take years for Miscanthus sinensis seeds to grow to full maturity after a months-long stratification and germination process. You may have to wait for anywhere between 24 months and 36 months before your plant fully matures.

(Image: Angela Lo¹⁷)

To germinate Miscanthus sinensis seeds, start by getting Ziploc bags and growing mediums like peat moss, coconut coir, or vermiculite. Place your preferred growing medium in the plastic bag and water it until moist.

Insert the seed into the growing medium, zip up or tie the bag, and then place it in your refrigerator or freezer for a month or up to six weeks.

This process is called seed stratification.¹⁰ Some seeds require a dormancy period in cold temperatures that will help trigger germination and sprouting during an abrupt temperature change.

Then, place the seeds on the top of a seed tray filled with pre-moistened potting soil. There is no need to bury the seeds an inch below the surface, so be sure to lay the seeds on top of the soil.

Miscanthus sinensis seeds require direct sunlight exposure to germinate and sprout. Always keep the soil moist, but never soaking or soggy.

Optimally, it would be beneficial to grow your seeds in a greenhouse with a temperature of anywhere between 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit; if you can’t make sure that the environment in which you germinate your seeds falls within that temperature range and has direct sunlight exposure.

It could take anywhere between several weeks to several months before your Miscanthus sinensis seeds grow into seedlings that measure a few inches in height. You can then simply transfer your Miscanthus sinensis seedlings to the preferred planting spots on your landscape or property.

Space your Miscanthus sinensis seedlings at least 3 feet apart in a garden or landscape.

Growing Miscanthus sinensis From Cutting

Miscanthus sinensis can’t be grown from a traditional cutting since it is an herbaceous perennial, but if you have access to an existing plant then you can divide the rhizome and plant it. A new Miscanthus sinensis plant will eventually grow from it.

One of the reasons why Miscanthus sinensis grows so invasively and rapidly once mature is due to its underground rhizome growth.¹¹ A rhizome is a modified stem that grows horizontally from the root stem base searching for watching, extending the root network, and facilitating new sprout growth.

Over 50% of the entire biomass of a Miscanthus sinensis clump is located underground in the form of rhizomes and roots.⁴ In other words, a 13-foot-tall clump of giant Silver Grass above the soil may have the equivalent height or length in mass under the soil.

Firstly, you need access to an existing Miscanthus sinensis plant and then carefully dig up its root base and rhizome extension system. You want to focus on carefully digging up the root ball.

You can separate the rhizomes from the root ball with your hands or garden shears. Rhizomes grow out from interstitial points called nodes, so you should only plant rhizomes if you can see two or more nodes on them.

Moisten the rhizome segments with water and then plant them with 5 feet of space between them.

Best Growing Conditions for Silvergrass

Miscanthus sinensis will grow even if you don’t monitor it and control it. So, the planting tips for Silvergrass are low maintenance.

This plant will grow in almost any soil medium, but you should make sure that it is well-draining.

(Image: yamashin¹⁸)

How long it takes to grow Silvergrass? It can take anywhere between 24 to 36 months before your Miscanthus sinensis plant will grow to full maturity.

As for when to plant Silvergrass for the best yield, you should aim to plant your seeds or seedlings anytime between March to October. The springtime might be the best time to plant so that the plant’s roots and rhizomes can become well established.

As for the watering needs for Silvergrass plants, it is a drought-resistant species.¹² You could forget to water it for a week or two and it should be OK.

Optimally, you should water the soil until it is damp but not soaking wet once a week.

How much sunlight does Silvergrass need each day? Miscanthus sinensis needs at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight exposure daily.

Some species and cultivars of Miscanthus sinensis prefer indirect sunlight and may scorch in direct sunlight.

How far apart to plant Silvergrass on your landscape? You should space your Miscanthus sinensis anywhere between five to 10 feet apart.

Silvergrass Growing Zone

What are the growing zones for Silvergrass? Where to grow it?

Miscanthus sinensis grows optimally in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

How Fast Does Miscanthus sinensis Grow?

The Silvergrass growth rate for prime plant species is rather slow. Most species will grow only several inches per month.

(Image: 修平 深田 (Fukka211)¹⁹)

Some variant species and cultivars of this plant will grow up to a foot annually.

Companion Plants for Growing Silvergrass

Miscanthus sinensis is considered to be a nuisance plant and an invasive species in several American states. Some gardening and landscaping experts might even try to persuade you not to plant and consider another species.

You should not be considering planting any companion plants within ten feet of your Miscanthus sinensis plants.

If you are adamant about planting companion perennials with your Miscanthus sinensis however, you can plant Black Eyed Susan, Sedum, and Coneflowers. Keep in mind that most varied plant species on the same landscape should be spaced anywhere between 18 inches to 4 feet apart at the minimum.¹³

How To Stop Silvergrass Disease

Miscanthus sinensis is considered to be an invasive plant species; it covers over 25 percent of the grasslands in Japan. You should not have too many problems with pests or worry about Silvergrass disease prevention while growing this plant.

One of the common pests of the Silvergrass species is mealybugs, but using eco-friendly pesticides should remove them. You can also cut the plant down to the root, and apply a non-toxic pesticide, and it will grow back again.

Besides that, you don’t need to worry about natural pest control for Silvergrass.

How To Identify Silvergrass

You would have to go out of your way to not notice Miscanthus sinensis growing on a property landscape, roadside, or in the wild, even if you don’t know its name.

Miscanthus sinensis grows in wide circular clumps and looks like tall growing sugarcane blades with feathery plumed foliage that somewhat resembles wheat.

The aesthetics and Silvergrass symbolism facilitated the creation of numerous names whenever it prospered. It is sometimes called porcupine grass due to the tall, arching blades of grass growing in a circular clump.

Here are several ways that you can identify Miscanthus sinensis wherever you may see it:

Silvergrass Leaves

Miscanthus sinensis leaves, which look like extremely tall blades of grass or sugarcane, range in height anywhere between 3 feet to 13 feet. The leaf is flat, usually medium green hued, and anywhere between a quarter of an inch to 2 inches wide.

The leaves grow tall, arch, and mesmerizingly sway in the wind. Many species and cultivars of this plant manifest yellow or white stripes or patches on the green leaves as they grow.

Silvergrass Flower

The foliage of Miscanthus sinensis is plumed, and feathery and manifests in a wheat-like aesthetic when in bloom.

Most species and cultivars of Miscanthus sinensis grow foliage with panicles featuring clusters of small tassel-like flowers growing above the foliage. After the bloom, the flowers change in various colors like purple, pink, red, or silver depending on the species.

This is a great species of plant if you like pink flowers or any types of white flowers.

Silvergrass Seeds

Miscanthus sinensis seeds are usually tan or cream-colored and very tiny. Like dandelion seeds, Miscanthus sinensis seeds are very light and easily dispersed by the wind to help propagate the existence of the plant.

Miscanthus sinensis Facts

Miscanthus sinensis is a tall-growing and ornamental grass species that has its origins in East and Southeast Asia.⁵ “Sinensis” is a Latin term that roughly translates to “from China.”⁶

Although probably native to China, Miscanthus sinensis is also natively grown and widespread in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and other regions in the area.

Miscanthus sinensis has numerous other names according to region but is already referred to as Maiden Grass.

Miscanthus sinensis is a member of the scientific family Poaceae.⁷ This plant is botanically related to wheat, bamboo, barley, rice, and 12,000 other species within the Poaceae family.⁷

No one knows how the Miscanthus sinensis grass species was transplanted into the United States. What is known is that the species started appearing on roadsides, in the wild, and on railroad tracks in the Northeastern states sometime in the early 1940s.⁴

There are about 150 distinct cultivar species of the plant that you can purchase according to your landscaping and properties.

Due to the fact that this plant species is considered an invasive species in numerous Eastern and Southern American states, it’s important to research and consider particular cultivars, especially sterile cultivars that suit and optimize your landscaping needs. (More on this later.)

Miscanthus sinensis grows in isolated clumpy patches that can rapidly become invasive if growth is left unchecked. This plant species should also be planted and grown away from your home and vital dwelling structures since it is a known fire hazard.⁴

Zebra Grass

Zebra grass is just another term for Silvergrass. Some cultivars and species of Miscanthus sinensis manifest white or yellow stripe bands or spotting on their green-colored leaves as they mature.

These visually striking aesthetics are why the species is sometimes referred to as zebra grass.

Chinese Silver Grass

Chinese Silver Grass is the typical name used when most people refer to Miscanthus sinensis since it is believed that the plant probably originated in China.

(Image: 葉子²¹)

Chinese Silver Grass has long been used as a home construction and roofing material.⁶ It is still being used in China as roof thatching material today.

Miscanthus sinensis is also used to make storage bags and even a yellow dye.

Japanese Silver Grass

Miscanthus sinensis is an abundantly common grass species that grows all over the Japanese archipelago. It is known as Maiden Grass, Japanese Silver Grass, or variegated Japanese Silver Grass.

Japanese Silver Grass is still commonly used in private gardens and large-scale landscaping projects in Japan today. Japanese Silver Grass is planted in rural areas and grasslands to revegetate land and install erosion control mechanisms.

Over 25 percent of the grasslands and rural areas in the entirety of Japan are populated with Japanese Silver Grass growth.⁴ Native Japanese species of Miscanthus sinensis is so abundant, rapidly growing, and energy efficient that it is currently being studied as a potential energy-producing biomass and biofuel of the future.⁴

Eulalia Grass

Miscanthus sinensis is so widespread throughout the world that it is known by many names. In Massachusetts and some other states, Miscanthus sinensis is commonly referred to as Eulalia grass.⁸

Should Ornamental Grasses Be Cut Back for Winter?

You don’t necessarily need to prune or cut back Miscanthus sinensis for the winter. This perennial will go dormant in the winter and you can enjoy its blades throughout the winter.

(Image: Kathleen Houlahan Chayer²²)

If you want to know how to trim ornamental grass for the winter you can just cut down six inches of it from the top. Cutting it back before the winter will also help encourage new growth before the Spring.

Drawbacks of Planting Miscanthus sinensis

Asking “Are Silvergrass considered invasive?” is a very moot question. Miscanthus sinensis is considered an invasive species on the state and municipal level in states like Florida, Massachusetts, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Connecticut, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C.^{4, 9, 14}

One of the most serious Silvergrass facts is that the plant can be an extreme fire hazard.⁴ Miscanthus sinensis is an extreme fire hazard and a very flammable plant.

Still, the plant is very hardy; even if the entire 50% of the plant above the soil is burned to ashes, the rhizome under the plant could still survive and sprout new growths within weeks or months.⁴

Take extreme care when choosing where to plant it, especially near your home or dwelling.

What Is a Major Eco-Friendly Benefit of Planting Miscanthus sinensis?

Many homeowners and gardeners waste shameful amounts of water on green lawns and water-insatiable plants.

(Image: dae jeung kim (KIMDAEJEUNG)²⁰)

In 2017, Los Angeles residents wasted over 70 billion gallons of water annually by overwatering their green lawns, plants, and trees; this is unconscionable waste in a state, California, that regularly suffers from droughts.¹⁵

Does Chinese Silver Grass Need Fertilizer?

Chinese Silver Grass doesn’t need fertilizer. Rhizome undergrowth is designed to seek water and nutrients and store them for a long time.

While it would not hurt the plant to feed it some nitrogen-based fertilizer annually, it wouldn’t be a bad idea. Still, consult with a landscaper before doing such.

Feeding your plant too many nutrients could unwittingly kickstart a period of uncontrollable and invasive growth.

Silvergrass is a great plant alternative to use for xeriscaping purposes and to save water.

Can Miscanthus sinensis Be Grown in a Pot?

There are numerous dwarf varieties of Miscanthus sinensis that you can grow indoors in a flower pot. Use a large flower pot with multiple drainage holes and well-draining soil to accommodate the root ball.

Unless you use a fast-growing cultivar, your potted Miscanthus sinensis should grow slowly. Make sure to expose your plant to six to eight hours of direct sun exposure daily.

You may also need to water your Chinese Silvergrass plant two or three times a week to keep the soil consistently moist due to the drainage holes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Silvergrass