Variegated Japanese Silver Grass

Classification

• One of many cultivars, Japanese silver grass is a unique group within a single species bred to enhance a specific genetic trait. Some plant species have dozens or hundreds of cultivars. Other common breeds of Miscanthus sinensis include the darker red-purple Purpurescens and the pale white-silver Silver Feather cultivars.

Characteristics

• Japanese silver grass is relatively tall; its shoots can reach a vertical height of 7 to 8 feet. This clumping grass produces flowering plumes, which are nearly a foot long, during summer and fall. These plumes range from silver to light pink and last well into the colder winter months. It does not produce a visible fruiting body. This species can be planted year round, as ground temperature permits, and is propagated by cutting sections of the main clump for transplantation elsewhere.

Climate Hardiness and Pests

• This plant grows well in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. This area covers a vast portion of the continental United States, ranging from Wisconsin and Montana through Florida and other southern states. This species can have problems surviving in colder areas of zone 4 and may require consideration of local environmental factors, like elevation or wind exposure.

Environmental Requirements and Plant Health

• Growing best with maximum exposure to sunlight, Japanese silver grass survives in partially shaded areas. Like most ornamental plants, it prefers soil with good water drainage. However, it is quite tolerant of adverse soil conditions and is known to grow in heavy or clay soil. Peat or sphagnum moss can be mixed with the growing soil to enhance its viability and increase plant health. It's not particularly susceptible to infestation or disease, which makes it a desirable choice for areas known to harbor fungal infestation.

History

• As its name suggests, Japanese silver grass is not native to North America. It is thought to have originated in eastern sections of Asia and was first found by western botanists on the island nation of Japan. The first specimens were imported to the United States in the early 1900s and have since been propagated throughout most of the country.