'Fire Dragon' Miscanthus sinensis

6 years ago

I got a decent nursery sized 'Fire Dragon' Miscanthus last late summer. The claim is that this is a new form of M. sinensis somebody grew by in Germany. Does anybody know much about this?

Fire Dragon

Last Autumn, it didn't really turn red for me, but maybe that was because of being less established. But the flower inflorescence were not quite the same as other M. sinsensis I've seen, lighter and less fluffy, no color to start with.

Now in Spring it is starting to grow new growth significantly slower than other "Maiden Grass", it's in full sun. The grass blades do seem of a somewhat thinner "weight" than normal. I'm thinking this probably is a hybrid, being sold as a new improved variety. I'm already thinking of replacing it. Anybody else have this plant?

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Comments (5)

artinnaturez8b
2 years ago
@robert567 - are you still growing Fire Dragon? If so, how is is doing?

I recently discovered this cultivar (Monrovia, Wilson Bros.) and would also love to hear about any experiences growing it. I have never seen it in a garden or for sale other than online.

I have always really liked Miscanthus 'Purpurasens', and Fire Dragon appears to be an attempt at improving upon it, but is it? Is it genetically of the same parentage, or has Purpurascens been back-crossed with another Miscanthus to produce Fire Dragon? And, most importantly, is it an improvement on an already excellent plant?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
According to the plant patent, this is an open pollinated seedling arising from a cross of Miscanthus sinensis ‘Rotsilber’ and Miscanthus sinensis ‘Yakushima Dwarf’, both growing in the breeder's garden and assumed to be the parent plants.

Online photos show some impressive red-orange coloring but I also have never seen this plant available in area nurseries. As my area tends to have relatively cool summers, Miscanthus will often not develop seedheads/plumes before cold weather sets in in late fall and seldom ever develops much foliage color. Not a massively popular seller here. YMMV
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artinnaturez8b
2 years ago
Well that's interesting Pam. Neither Rotsilber or Yakushima Dwarf seem to have red autumn foliage according to images online. While the images of Fire Dragon appear to be almost identical to Purpurascens. Hmmm.
robert567
Original Author
2 years ago
I gave up on it after a couple seasons, it didn't have the arching form and normal full inflorescences I associate with Miscanthus sinensis. As for color, probably depends on the year. I wonder if it is a mix with the hybrid Purpurascens since it has similar inflorescences and color, but they claim 'Fire Dragon' is not.
artinnaturez8b
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
"I wonder if it is a mix with the hybrid Purpurascens since it has similar inflorescences and color"

I wonder the same thing. FWIW, I've always found Purpurascens to be vastly different from all other cultivars: vertical not arching or splaying, dense, compact inflorescences which are extremely fluffy, curly, and really catch the light in late autumn & early winter, and of course highly colored autumn foliage that tends to retain a lot of color even after drying out, similar to little bluestem in that last attribute. The foliage also seems to be flatter (not creased) and wider than most other smallish Miscanthus.