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ornamental grass

Giant Silver Grass

Miscanthus x giganteus

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Giant Silver Grass (Miscanthus x giganteus) at North Branch Nursery

Giant Silver Grass

Giant Silver Grass

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Plant Height:  10 feet

Flower Height:  12 feet

Spread:  5 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4a

Ornamental Features

Giant Silver Grass features bold plumes of rose flowers rising above the foliage in late summer. The silver seed heads are carried on showy plumes displayed in abundance from early fall to late winter. Its grassy leaves are green in color. The foliage often turns brown in fall. The tan stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Giant Silver Grass is an herbaceous perennial grass with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Giant Silver Grass is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Vertical Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • Hedges/Screening
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Giant Silver Grass will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity extending to 12 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to be leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and should be underplanted with lower-growing perennials. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Articulation  Massing  Screening  Garden 
Applications
Flowers  Fruit  Plant Form  Bark  Winter Value 
Ornamental Features