added by
pbrandman to
outdoors (13 months ago)
to Ideabook
by Habitat Design
by Habitat Design
Popular miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis cultivars) is the grand dame of warm season grasses — so much so that I find folks are more likely to know it by its botanical name than its common name ("maiden grass"). You'll find many varieties of miscanthus on the market, but most are 4 to 6 feet tall, have a vase shape and bloom anytime from midsummer to fall. My favorite is the standby 'Morning Light' (zones 5 to 9), a vision in very slender, flocked blades. This one blooms late or not at all, making it more a foliage plant, but that's good in that Miscanthus sinensis, the parent species of all these grasses, has come under fire as a weedy, seedy invasive species in recent years. Experts question the cultivars' ability to seed, but the bottom line is: If it doesn't bloom, it won't set seed. Miscanthus likes full sun.