Miscanthus 'Gracillimus' Maiden Grass

Miscanthus 'Gracillimus' (maiden grass) is a deciduous ornamental grass offering year-round interest, blooming late summer to fall. One of the most popular cultivars of Miscanthus sinensis on the market, Miscanthus 'Gracillimus' grows in a dense, fountainlike clump of fine, variegated green blades, highlighted with a silvery white midrib. This elegant, gracefully arching maiden grass maintains its color throughout the season and turns golden yellow in fall. Its feathery, purple-flushed plumes are held aloft on airy stems and turn silvery white in fall, followed by seed heads in winter that attract birds and extend the season of interest.

Miscanthus 'Gracillimus' is an herbaceous perennial plant with a dense, rounded, mounding habit and moderate growth rate. The plant slowly naturalizes by short rhizomes and self-seeds, so it's a great option for naturalized areas and works especially well as erosion control. But Miscanthus 'Gracillimus' makes an excellent specimen, and one plant is all you should need to add drama to a bed, border, or container garden.

Easy to grow and low maintenance, maiden grass prefers a sunny location with moderately fertile, moist, well-draining soil but tolerates poor soils, drought, and salt. It is generally pest and disease free and deer and rabbit resistant. Cut the plant to the ground in late winter.