Dwarf Maiden Grass

Dwarf Maiden Grass

Miscanthus sinensis var. gracillimus

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲ ▼ plants showing more narrow foliage than standard maiden grass

▲ ▼ mature, flowering plants

Miscanthus sinensis: Maiden Grass, Japanese Maiden Grass

Location near campus: in ornamental grass bed toward southwest corner of Master Gardener areas north of Botanical Center Building in Nathanael Greene park at the Botanical Center; on campus by the center-west entrance to Carrington Hall.

silver green leaves 4-6' long and about 1/2" wide and serrated margins
general foliage height is 4-6'
inflorescence is a digitate panicle produced in early to late fall arising 1-2' above foliage
requires full sun; prefers moist, but well-drained soils, but is very adaptable except to very wet soils
trim foliage back to ground in winter
divide or move in spring to mid-summer
common cultivars:
- var. gracillimus (Dwarf Maiden Grass) has more slender leaves than species, about 1/4" wide
- var. variegata (Variegated Maiden Grass) has white stripes running length of leaf
- var. zebrinus (Zebra Grass) has darker green leaves with 1/2-1' wide yellow bands running across leaf surfaces