Chinese silver grass

Chinese silver grass: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Dense clump; depending on the variety 0.8–2.5 m tall, the species itself around 1.8 m.

Leaves

Long, narrow and arching, often with a white midrib; the edges are sharp.

Plume

Fan-shaped, from August to October; pink to reddish at first, later silvery and fluffy.

Autumn colour

Leaves and stems turn straw-yellow, orange or red in some varieties.

Roots

A tough rootstock that widens slowly, without spreading invasively.

Flowering: August–October · Plants: March–May · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• Plumes from August into winter: one of the finest grasses for late summer and autumn.
• Gives the garden structure all winter, especially with frost on the plumes.
• Fully hardy and low-maintenance: one cut in March.
• The rustling leaves bring movement and sound to the garden.
• Tall varieties make a light summer screen.

Chinese silver grass: where does it grow best?

• Full sun gives the most plumes and the sturdiest stems; in light partial shade it flowers less and flops more easily.
• Ordinary garden soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky.
• Moisture-retentive to damp; on soil that is too dry the leaves turn brown.
• Allow 1 m per plant, more for the tallest varieties.
• Place it where low autumn and winter sun shines through the plumes.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal or wet

Size

1.8 m tall, 1 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Purple coneflower: Pink flowers in front of the tall clump, in full sun.
• Rudbeckia: Yellow late-summer flowers beside the silver plumes.
• Michaelmas daisy: Flowers at the same time as the plumes.
• Sedum: Broad pink flower heads and sturdy leaves at its feet.

Chinese silver grass: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May.

1. Plant in March–May, as the soil starts to warm up.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the rootball and loosen the bottom.
3. Set the clump at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil well.
4. Keep 1 m away from other plants.
5. Water in thoroughly, and in dry spells during the first year.
6. A layer of compost or wood chips around the base keeps the soil moist.

Care

Watering

In dry spells during the first year; after that it copes, except in long dry summers.

Feeding

A spadeful of compost in April is enough. Too much fertiliser makes the stems floppy.

New growth

It starts late, often at the end of April or in May: that is normal.

Rejuvenating

Divide old clumps that go bare in the middle.

Gloves

Wear gloves when working on it: the leaf edges are sharp.

Tip: In March, tie the clump together with string before you cut it back: everything comes away in one go and the garden stays tidy.

Chinese silver grass: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: In March, before new growth begins. Leave the plumes and dry leaves standing all winter.

How:

• Tie the clump together with string first; then you can cut it off in one go.
• Cut or saw the stems back to about 10 cm above the ground.
• Use hedge shears or a pruning saw and wear gloves.
• Do not wait too long: cut before the new shoots appear, or you will cut them too.

Caution: Do not cut back in autumn: the old leaves protect the heart of the plant from wet and frost.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In April–May, as new growth starts. Cut pieces off the clump with a sharp spade or saw, as the rootstock is tough. Replant each piece with a few shoots and roots straight away.

Seed

The species can be sown in spring, but named varieties do not come true from seed.

Chinese silver grass: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Fully hardy to about −25 °C.
• Leave the leaves and plumes: they protect the heart and look beautiful with frost or snow.
• In a large pot: stand it against a wall and wrap the pot in hessian so the roots do not freeze.

Diseases and pests

• Bare centre: Old clumps die out in the middle. Divide them in spring and replant the vigorous outer parts.
• Flopping: In too much shade or on too rich a soil the stems fall open. Move it into sun and feed less.
• Brown leaves: On soil that is too dry the leaf tips turn brown. Water in long dry spells and mulch.
• Late start: No problem: it only really starts growing once the soil is warm.

Through the year

• March: Cut the clump back to 10 cm. Plant.
• April: Plant or divide. Give compost.
• May: New growth. Plant or divide.
• June: Water young plants in dry spells.
• July: Strong growth. Water in long droughts.
• August: The first plumes appear.
• September: Plumes at their best, lovely with the light behind them.
• October: Autumn colour. The plumes turn silvery.
• November: Leave everything standing for winter.
• December: Plumes and stems decorate the winter garden.

Did you know?

• In Japan it is called susuki and is one of the seven traditional autumn plants; at the autumn moon festival its plumes are put in a vase.
• A relative, giant miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus), is grown in Europe as an energy crop: the stems are used as fuel or animal bedding.
• It is a warmth-loving grass: it only grows strongly once the soil is warm, which is why it starts so late in spring.