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| Category: Grass |
| Family: Poaceae (Gramineae) (Grasses) |
| Origin: Asia, East (Asia) |
| Variegated Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: Silver |
| Bloomtime: Summer/Fall |
| Parentage: (M. 'Cosmopolitan reversion) |
| Height: 6-8 feet |
| Width: 4-5 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: < 0 °F |
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Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus (Large Silver Grass) - A large semi-evergreen clumping grass that grows to 6 to 8 feet tall with 1 1/2" wide green leaves. Similar to the species, Eulalia Grass, Miscanthus sinensis, but has wider leaves, thicker stems and a more erect habit. It also does not go fully deciduous in coastal California the way the Miscanthus sinensis cultivars do. Like the species it flowers in late summer and fall. Grow in full sun or light shade with regular water. Hardy to USDA Zone 6 (-10 degrees F). This is a large lush grass that has a tropical feel and it retains some green foliage through winter in our mild climate. It can be cut down in mid-winter or just about any other time to reduce its mass. The name Miscanthus was given to this genus of perennial grasses native to Japan and the Philippines by the 19th century Swedish botanist Nils Johan Andersson. It comes from the Greek words 'miskos' which means "stem" or "stalk" and 'anthos', meaning "flowers" in reference to the seed heads having stalked spikelets. The specific epithet refers to this plants native habitat in China but it can be found growing naturally throughout temperate Asia. The varietal name condensatus, means "crowded together" in reference to the dense clumps it forms. This plant was described as Miscanthus condensatus from a location in coastal Japan in the Hachijoo Provence by the Austrian botanist Eduard Hackel in 1899. In 1987 it was made a subspecies of Miscanthus sinensis by the Japanese botanist Tetsuo Michael Koyama. In most current taxonomical databases this subspecies is listed as a form of Miscanthus sinensis. We first received the variegated Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan' in 1992 from John Greenlee and offered it in our catalogs from 1993 until 2008. Our specimen plant of this variety sported non-variegated culms which we selected out and now offer as Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus.
The information about Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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