Miscanthus sinensis Malepartus (Chinese Silver Grass)

Vigorous and free-flowering, Chinese Silver Grass 'Malepartus' (Miscanthus sinensis) is a spectacular ornamental grass grown for its abundant and huge, pink-tinged flower plumes on display in late summer. Flowering earlier than most Miscanthus, they delicately change to silver as they mature and provide excellent winter interest. They rise gracefully above an elegant foliage of narrow, arching, green leaves with white midribs, which turn beautiful shades of red, orange and bronze in fall. A fabulous focal point in the garden!

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Deciduous, this perennial grass can be easily grown in a dense, upright clump up to 6-7 feet tall (180-210 cm) and 3-4 ft wide (90-120 cm). Standing out beautifully in the garden, its fine-textured foliage sways gracefully in the slightest breeze and delicately softens any landscapes.
• Performs best in full sun in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Protect from excessive winter wet. Drought and salt tolerant once established.
• Very versatile, it can be used as a graceful accent plant in the garden, massed to create screens or hedges, planted in borders, coastal gardens, city gardens, cottage gardens or prairie plantings.
• This Chinese Silver Grass is generally pest and disease free. It is deer and rabbit resistant but attracts birds.
• Cut foliage to the ground in late winter before new shoots appear. Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring or by division in spring.
• Native to Asia, the species form of Miscanthus sinensis is invasive in several US states. The invasive potential is of less concern for many of its ornamental cultivars, some of which are sterile. However, as a general rule, do not plant more than one cultivar on your property, and use only a vegetatively propagated cultivar that has shown little or no evidence of self-seeding in your area.
• Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.