Miscanthus sinensis Silberspinne - Silvergrass

Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberspinne' takes on vibrant hues in autumn. It forms a large, dense and arching clump. The somewhat loose panicles, tinged with red and white, bloom in September, becoming silver and fluffy at maturity. It is decorative from late summer to the heart of winter, when its plumes are finely frosted. This plant is not invasive. Its inflorescences are perfect for dried bouquets. It is easy to grow in any ordinary soil that is not too dry to moist. It likes a position in the sun.

'Silberspinne', also known as Chinese silver grass, belongs to the Poaceae family. It is a horticultural selection from Miscanthus sinensis, native to Far East Asia and Oceania. This grass with short rhizomes grows in a non-running clump. The habit is both erect and trailing, reaching 2m (7ft) in height, with a spread of 80cm (32in). The leaves are slender, very long, and flexible. They are initially dark green with white veins, then burgundy-red-copper in autumn. Long floral stems emerge from the foliage from September to November, in the form of silky digitate spikes, 20cm (8in) long, tinged with pink-red and white. When withered, they take on a silvery hue.

Made for large mass plantings, 'Silberspinne' brings a beautiful structure and a lot of grace. It is suitable for both wild environments and modern gardens with clean lines. Miscanthus is well-suited for hedge planting, forming a screen along a pathway, for example, to isolate the garden from the street. In urban areas, Miscanthus 'Silberspinne' will soften concrete structures. Finally, it is perfect in dried bouquets.

Some varieties of giant miscanthus are currently being studied, as they offer real prospects for the creation of standing crop or fibre panels. These plants have several advantages: they do not deplete the soil, tolerate polluted soils well, and can be incinerated or even used for the production of biofuel.