Mila

Miscanthus sinensis Strictus

Chinese silver grass

• 
  Almost unkillable
• 
  Bright light

• Mila likes...
  • 
    A sunny spot

    She’ll be happy in either full sun or dappled shade. She’s not one for really dark spots. She'll flower best in full sun.

  • 
    Moist soil

    She’ll manage if her soil gets a bit dry but she prefers it lightly moist.

  • 
    Haircuts

    She doesn’t need much care but keep her neat by cutting back dead leaves in early spring.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Miscanthus sinensis strictus

  Nickname

  Chinese silver grass; elephant grass

  Plant type

  Grass, outdoor

  Plant height (including pot)

  20-30cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Yes

  Nursery pot size

  17cm

• About Miscanthus

  Chinese silver grass has elegant long green leaves with unusual horizontal cream stripes. In early summer it will have light feathery flowers that add texture and can also be dried and used for indoor arrangements. In autumn, the leaves slowly turn a reddish-brown, making this an easy way to add subtle year-round interest to your outdoor space.

  Miscanthus is really easy to look after. It likes sun or dappled shade and it prefers its soil to stay moist. It doesn’t need much in the way of year round attention but it’s important to know that it's deciduous, and dies back or goes into dormancy over Winter. It's a good idea to cut back dead leaves in early spring, to make way for new ones.

  Miscanthus is grown in gardens all over the world for its simple, architectural forms and resistance to cold. Some wild versions can grow as tall as 4 metres. This one could reach that height if you let it, but it’s easy to keep it more compact with yearlypruning.

  Did you know?

  Miscanthus is sometimes known as elephant grass because it grows so tall.