Spectacular, clump forming autumn flowering grasses with good winter presence. Many look good from August to March when they need cutting hard back, to near ground level. No staking required especially in exposed gardens.
We are currently in the process of collecting Miscanthus, with the hope of applying for National Plant Collection ® status in the future. We already have c. 100 varieties and are working on obtaining more - there are at least 250 named forms now! We are also researching all the varieties, specifically to try and find out the origin of each form. Over the next couple of years we hope to start planting the Miscanthus collection out in a new area of field adjacent to the nursery which will enable all our varieties to be seen together.
Miscanthus come in many different shapes and sizes, though the basic form doesn't change much: tight clumps with often woody bases, upright stems clothed with leaves to about 75% of their height, the flowers held above the foliage in late summer and autumn. The height, uprightness and flower details are the main differences between varieties but there are a large number of leaf variations too, both variegated leaves and width of leaf. There are a very small number of forms that are not clump forming. Generally speaking Miscanthus are very long lived, trouble free garden grasses.
We recommend allowing Miscanthus at least 2-3 growing seasons in the garden before deciding if they are going to be okay as they do take some time to establish a root system and to start growing to their full potential. On poorer, drier soils consider the forms with more narrow leaves as these tend to be more drought tolerant.
One of the best for autumn foliage colour, this makes neat clumps of leafy stems to 1.2m. Light green in summer, turning into a bonfire of autumn colour from July until the frosts. Thin reddish flowers. Good soil in full sun.
A recent form with a low tufted habit with lots of silvery grey flowers, pinkish to start. Very good winter seedheads. 1m. Looks like it will spread a bit. Average soil in sun.
Bright creamy white variegated leaves on this form which will produce decent pink silky flowers that fade to golden tan for the winter. Clumps. Best in good soil in full sun, 1.8m.
A compact form of "zebra grass" with pale yellow bands across mid green leaves on stems to 1.5m. Silken golden flowers produced in autumn in a warm site.
An excellent compact variety with relatively broad leaves that colour very well in the autumn. Fluffy heads of pink flowers turn to silvery gold. Not particularly vigorous. 1.2m.
Bright creamy white striped foliage on this old variety, introduced from Japan in the second half of the 19th century. In a warm season silver-pink flowers are produced on stems to 1.8m, September-October. Good soil in sun.
A cracking foliage form with broad, dark green leaves strongly striped with creamy white. Will produce fluffy pink flowers in a warm season. Dense clumps of upright stems to 2.4m+!
The closest to an evergreen Miscanthus in the UK. In a mild winter most of the leaves are retained but it is still best cut back hard in February. Open habit and masses of pink-silver flowers in autumn to 1.8m. Average soil in sun.
