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.
Clumps of upright stems clothed with light green leaves that take on reddish purple tints from early summer and by autumn are largely red and purple - excellent. Thin flowers in autumn. 1m.
Bright golden yellow variegated foliage on this Miscanthus, arching leaves on bristly stems to 1.5m. Not flowered for us so far. This is one of the few Miscanthus that are not clump forming, it will spread to make a patch.
A new and very unusual Miscanthus - totally evergreen for us! Early flowers of golden buff on dense bushy plants to 1m. Looks like M. flavidus. Good soil in sun.
A small grower compared to most Miscanthus. Tight clumps of upright stems clad with olive leaves and topped with coppery red flowers to 1.5m. Outstanding red autumn foliage.
A dwarf form with golden flowers to 60cm. The flowers emerge frizzled and as they turn to seed the whole thing looks like dreadlocks! Average soil in sun.
A selected form of 'Yakushima Dwarf' making mounds of fine foliage and pinky flowers in late summer and autumn. Good silvery seedheads overwinter. Average soil in full sun. 1.2m.
An elegant French variety with narrow leaves and light yellow "zebra" stripes. Rarely flowers for us but when it does, they are pinkish and quickly fade to golden buff. 1.5m
An attractive but rarely seen selection to only 1.5m. Upright columns of deep olive green foliage with fluffy, silvery flowers with a red-purple base in autumn. Ordinary soil in sun.
A robust, tall variety with broad leaves. Chunky heads of rich pink flowers turn silver as the autumn progresses. Good autumn foliage colour too. 2.4m, good soil in full sun.
An American cultivar with zebra-type markings on an upright clump of light green leaves. Not flowered for us here yet, it may need a warm season to do so. 1.5m.
An excellent narrow leafed variety which will produce a tight clump of upright stems topped with golden pink flowers in late summer and autumn. Good winter effect. 1.4m. Average soil in full sun.
An excellent, popular, early flowering variety with purple-red flowers from August. Flowers fade to silvery grey for winter. Good upright habit to 1.8m. Good soil in sun.
An elegant variegated form with an upright clump forming habit and fine foliage with white margins. Excellent and airy height for mixing into formal borders or naturalistic gardens. Good soil in sun. 1.5m.
Narrow leaves on this excellent shorter form to 1.5m. Salmon pink flowers turn to a golden brown and stand through the winter. Good soil in full sun for the best effect.
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