Miscanthus - planting and care in open ground, varieties with photos and descriptions

Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/ru/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: Garden plants Published: February 20, 2019Last edits: November 03, 2020

plant (lat. Miscanthus) , or fan , is a close relative of sugar cane and belongs to the genus of herbaceous perennials of the Poa family (Poaceae), common in the subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, Australia and Africa. There are about 40 plant species in the genus. In cultivation, miscanthus grass is one of the most popular ornamental grasses. Miscanthus in landscape design is used to decorate ponds, lawns, and also to create dry floral compositions.

Planting and caring for miscanthus

• Planting: from late March to mid-May.
• Flowering: in the second half of summer.
• Lighting: bright sunlight.
• Soil: moist, fertile, near a pond. Miscanthus does not grow well on heavy clay and sand.
• Watering: regularly and abundantly, using a hose.
• Feeding: regular and moderate, three times per season, starting from the second year: in mid-May - with urea solution, in the first half of summer - with humates, in the second - with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.
• Reproduction: by seeds, but more often by dividing the bush in the spring.
• Pests and Diseases: The plant is extremely resistant to both diseases and pests.

Read more about growing miscanthus below.

Notes

1. For the convention of indicating the class of monocots as a higher taxon for the group of plants described in this article, see the section “APG Systems” of the article “Monocots”.
2. ↑ 1 2
   Information about the genus
   Miscanthus
   
   Index Nominum Genericorum
   database of the International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT). (Accessed April 30, 2017)
3. Grow to burn. www1.voanews.com (March 5, 2003). Retrieved February 24, 2010. Archived April 18, 2012.
4. Research into energy herbs has begun in Russia. www.vashsad.ua. Retrieved February 24, 2010. Archived April 18, 2012.
5. Scientists from the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS offer a worthy replacement for cotton. Press service of the Federal Research Center "ICIG SB RAS" (02/28/2017). Retrieved March 10, 2017.
6. According to the book “Flora of the USSR” (see section Literature).
7. Miscanthus. The Plant List. Retrieved April 10, 2022.

Botanical description

Miscanthus flower is a perennial with a height of 80 cm to 2 m with creeping rhizomes, which in search of food can reach a depth of 6 m, erect shoots, scaly leathery leaves 5 to 18 mm wide and fan-shaped panicles 10 to 30 cm long, consisting of spikelets . Miscanthus is unpretentious, hardy and environmentally friendly; it is of interest not only for its decorative value, but also as a fuel for power plants, since during its combustion a large amount of energy is released with the formation of a minimal amount of ash due to the low moisture content in the raw material.

Usage

Miscanthus is actively used in landscape design of personal plots. Florists include dry panicles in bouquets and arrangements. And some countries are actively growing miscanthus for industrial purposes to use it as biofuel.

In landscape design

Decorators use miscanthus to decorate the banks of ponds. Tall plants are planted to form a dense background for bright, low-growing flowers. Single shrubs are used to add accents to lawns and also as natural fencing. Sometimes it is planted in mixtures with other herbs to create colorful mixes.

Fuel for power plants

Miscanthus is classified as a biofuel crop that can release a large amount of thermal energy when burned. The high efficiency has been proven by numerous studies, the results of which have led to a wave of construction of corresponding power plants in Europe and China. Also, growing miscanthus has a positive effect on the quality of the soil, clearing it of radiation and heavy metals.

Planting miscanthus

When to plant

Miscanthus is planted in the spring, when the soil warms up - from late March to mid-May. Miscanthus are heat-loving, so they need to be planted in well-lit and sun-warmed areas, protected from cold winds. But even more than warmth, miscanthuses love water, which is why they prefer moist, fertile coastal areas. The quality of the soil for miscanthus is not very important, but they grow worst of all on sand and heavy clays.

How to plant

If you decide to grow miscanthus on your plot, buy adult seedlings: this plant has a very long growing season, since heat-loving miscanthus begins to grow only when the air temperature reaches 25 ºC, so a young seedling simply will not have time to take root and grow stronger before the onset of cold weather.

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An adult seedling has a greater margin of safety, and with good shelter it can survive even a cold winter without pain. A layer of fertile soil is placed in the planting hole, which should be slightly larger in volume than the root system of the seedling, then the seedling is lowered into it and the voids are filled with soil, gradually compacting it. After planting, miscanthus is watered abundantly.

Ways to grow a plant

You can grow miscanthus using several methods: seeds, dividing the bush, seedlings. The latter can be purchased in specialized stores.

How to grow from seeds

If you want to grow mycanthus from seeds, it is best to sow them in the fall. Before sowing, the material is prepared. To do this, soak it in potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. Next, the seeds are washed with clean water and dried. Then they start sowing:

1. Prepare containers - flower pots, plastic cups or wooden boxes are suitable. The best option is peat pots, since in them it is easier for the plant to adapt to a new place.
2. The nutrient substrate is poured into planting containers.
3. Place the seeds in the soil, press them down a little, and moisten them with a spray bottle.
4. Cover the seeds with film and transfer to a warm place with a temperature of t=20-24°C.
5. When the shoots appear, remove the film and put them in a well-lit place.
6. If there is insufficient lighting, the sprouts should be illuminated, for example, using a phytolamp.

In the spring, when the frost period has passed, the seedlings are taken outside for a certain time for hardening. In this case, there should be stable weather without wind and frost. Hardened seedlings will tolerate transplanting better. If the bushes are not in peat pots, then they should be watered abundantly to make it easier to remove the plants from the planting containers.

Miscanthus seedlings

Reproduction by division

You can divide a miscanthus bush no more than once every 3-4 years. The procedure is carried out in spring or early summer:

• carefully dig up the crop with its roots;
• clean the soil from the rhizome and divide it into several parts;
• individual divisions are planted in pre-prepared holes.

If it is not possible to plant the bush right away, it can be stored in a cold room for several days.

Caring for miscanthus in the garden

Growing conditions

Plant lovers say that there is no worse sight than a drying miscanthus, so do not forget to water it, especially during the hot, dry season. It is best to water miscanthus with a hose - the more abundantly, the better. Growing miscanthus also requires regular but moderate feeding, since excess nitrogen, for example, leads to lodging of the plant.

In the first year, miscanthus is not fed, and then fertilizers are applied twice per season: in mid-May, liquid fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers - for example, a urea solution - will be required. In the first half of summer, the area is watered with humates, and in the second half, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are applied. When starting to grow miscanthus, be prepared for constant weed control, at least in the first two years of the plant’s life. Then, when it gets stronger and grows, the weeds will no longer be able to break through the intensively spreading roots of the miscanthus. But, thanks to the roots of the plant, you will not have to loosen the soil on the site.

By the way, the growth of miscanthus in the garden will have to be limited, otherwise, except for this picturesque reed, nothing else will be able to grow. This is done immediately after planting: the limiter marks the limits within which the plant should remain. You can use pieces of iron or slate as a limiter. They need to be dug in along the entire perimeter of the site, without breaks or gaps, to a depth of at least 20 cm, and they must rise above the surface by at least 10 cm so that the roots, in search of food, cannot “jump over” the line.

By the end of summer, some types of miscanthus lose their lower leaves, and this reduces the decorative value of the plant. To disguise the lower thinning part of the bushes, it is best to plant a tall hosta on the site - 50-60 cm in height, which grows quietly in conditions of excess soil moisture, which miscanthus cannot do without.

That's probably all that can be said about growing this cereal. Planting and caring for miscanthus in open ground is not labor-intensive, and the beauty and effectiveness of this plant can hardly be overestimated.

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Miscanthus propagation

Miscanthus does not like changing places, but over time the shoots in the center of the bush die off, so there is a need to replant the plant, which is combined with dividing the bush - one of the most reliable vegetative methods of propagating miscanthus. The bush is divided in spring or early summer; the procedure is carried out very carefully, since miscanthus recovers after injury for a long and painful time.

It is also possible to propagate the plant by seed. Miscanthus seeds do not require pre-sowing treatment, however, the generative method of propagation will require patience from you and will take a lot of time, since a plant grown from seeds becomes attractive only in the third or fourth year. The seeds are germinated in peat pots, and with the onset of spring, after the soil has completely thawed, they are planted in open ground. We remind you that when propagated by seed, miscanthus does not retain varietal characteristics, therefore the vast majority of gardeners prefer to propagate miscanthus vegetatively.

Pests and diseases

Nothing is known about diseases and pests that can affect miscanthus. This is a very healthy plant.

Reproduction

Propagated:

• vegetative;
• seeds.

The vegetative method is popular. This is explained by the inability of miscanthuses to ripen in our climate zone and grow seed material. In addition, most varieties do not retain the external characteristics and characteristics of the mother plant. Even if you manage to collect mature seeds from the variety you like during a tourist trip to warm countries, the likelihood that the new seedling will be an exact copy of the mother one is negligible.

If, due to certain circumstances, you prefer to propagate fantail by seeds, choose the seedling method.

Basically, they propagate by dividing the bush, cutting off part of the rhizomes with shoots from the mother. Giant varieties used for industrial purposes are grown by planting rhizomes in the ground. Several rhizomes very quickly turn into a beautiful tussock, and the price for such planting material is significantly lower than for a full-fledged plant.

Rhizomes are the lower, thickened part of the stem, which looks like a rhizome. In addition to miscanthus, irises and water lilies are propagated by rhizomes.

Miscanthus after flowering

Preparing for winter

There are types of miscanthus that are resistant to cold, and there are those that require mandatory shelter for the winter. Delicate varieties must be protected not only from frost, but also from sudden temperature changes. If cold weather comes gradually, then the plant has time to adapt to changes in nature, but if frost strikes unexpectedly, it may die. To prevent this from happening, cover the miscanthus with a hut made of film so that air can flow under it from the sides, and install two wooden shields on top of the film, also with a hut - this design will protect the miscanthus from a sudden cold snap.

But do not forget to mulch the area before constructing the shelter and protect the roots from freezing with a thick layer of any loose soil.

general characteristics

Miscanthus are very beautiful powerful ornamental grasses. In summer, dense green bushes, reaching two meters in height, look effective; closer to autumn, silver fans appear on them, and the greenery is painted in golden or burgundy tones. In winter, the inflorescences turn snow-white, giving the garden a fabulous look.

Miscanthus is considered one of the most spectacular cereals; it holds the absolute record for the number of varieties bred. But for this plant to bring joy, you need to be very careful when purchasing it.

Not all miscanthuses are able to withstand our winter, and among the cold-resistant ones there are aggressors from which garden plants should be kept away.

Types and varieties

Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus giganteus)

Most likely, it is a complex hybrid that has long been familiar to gardeners, but whose origin can only be guessed at. Its erect stems reach a height of 3 m, weeping dark green leaves with a white stripe along the midrib up to 25 cm wide, extending from the stem in all directions, make the plant look like a large fountain. This species blooms in late summer with pinkish panicles, which become silvery over time, and in areas with cold summers, giant miscanthus may not bloom at all.

Most often this view is used as an accent in the background. It requires camouflage of the lower part of the stems due to the leaves dying off in the second half of summer.

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Chinese Miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis)

It grows naturally in China, Korea, Japan and Russia. This is a perennial grass with a loose bush, short rhizome and erect stems up to 3 m high. Its leaves are linear, hard and rough, up to 1.5 cm wide, with a rough rib along the midrib. It blooms with single-flowered spikelets up to 7 mm long, collected in loose panicles. The species has been in cultivation since 1875, its winter hardiness is relative, so dry shelter and mulching for the winter are mandatory.

Chinese miscanthus is the most popular species in cultivation; today more than a hundred of its varieties are known, which differ in the color and shape of the inflorescences, the size and outline of the bush. Among them there are both heat-loving plants and those that can be safely grown in the middle zone. For example:

• Blondo - bush height up to 2 m, cold-resistant - winters without shelter;
• Variegatus is a loose bush no more than one and a half meters high with white longitudinal stripes on the leaves;
• Miscanthus Zebrinus, sometimes called Miscanthus Zebrina , is a variegated plant with transverse yellow stripes along green leaves;
• Ferner Austin - up to one and a half meters high, narrow graceful green leaves have a white stripe along the midrib, changing color to reddish-red in the fall. Blooming in August, the fan-shaped bright red panicles with white tips gradually turn silvery-bronze;
• Morning Light is a graceful low plant with narrow leaves edged with white. Unfortunately, this variety blooms late and not every year;
• Strictus is a miscanthus up to 270 cm high with bright variegated leaves up to 1.5 cm wide, along which transverse bright white and green stripes alternate, and reddish single-flowered spikelets in loose panicles.

Miscanthus sacchariflonis (Miscanthus sacchariflonis)

It grows in Russia in damp areas from the Amur region to the south of the Primorsky Territory, as well as in Korea, China and Japan. This is a plant up to 2 m high with bare stems, linear light green drooping leaves up to 60 cm long and up to 1.5 cm wide, blooming with white or silver-pink panicles up to 25 cm long. Since this species is heat-loving, its development begins in late spring, but throughout the warm season, Miscanthus sucrose grows intensively. It blooms from July and remains decorative until October.

It is cold-resistant, overwinters without shelter, but mulching the area in case there is no snow is advisable. The most popular form is Robustus - a plant larger than the main species.

Preparing seedlings

The most common way to grow jasmine in the garden is with seeds. They are easy to sow in open ground, in beds or in a flower bed. This method is convenient to use for annual catharanthus varieties. In the first year, you need to purchase seeds of a suitable variety, after which the plants can reproduce by self-sowing. You can also collect them after flowering and sow them the next year.

Propagation of catharanthus by seeds includes several stages:

• selection of seeds;
• seedling preparation;
• placing seedlings in open ground;
• caring for the plant as it grows.

Seed selection

To prepare seedlings you will need high-quality seeds. They are small, dark, and sold in sets of 100 pieces. It is worth choosing large, whole seeds without damage. They should not show signs of mold, fungal or other diseases. This plant has a high germination rate, but not all seeds are viable even after careful selection. Therefore, you can safely prepare 2–3 times more planting material than is required for landscaping a flower garden, depending on its quality.

Poll: Poll: What do you like most about Catharanthus? Beauty 70%

Variety of species and varieties 0%

Smell 30%

I don't like catharanthus. 0%

Voted: 10

Growing seedlings

Seeds must be sown in warm, well-warmed soil. In a temperate climate this is impossible, so the seedlings begin to be prepared in advance in a warm room. This could be a greenhouse, a balcony or a room with a temperature of 20 degrees and high humidity. The process involves several stages and begins at the end of winter.

1. Sowing seeds for seedlings occurs in the middle or end of February. They are placed in common boxes or in small holes, several at a time, to a depth of 1–2 cm. The soil should be loose, nutritious and moderately moist. The first shoots usually appear within 2–3 weeks.
2. Picking seedlings - carried out when the first 2-3 leaves appear on most seedlings. The largest and most viable specimens are transplanted into separate small containers filled with nutrient soil. They are further grown to be planted in open ground in the spring. Non-viable, too small and damaged seedlings will not be needed.
3. Growing seedlings is a period that lasts about 2 months. At this time, it is necessary to water the plants regularly. In spring, you can periodically take them out onto the balcony. This way the seedlings will get used to the coolness, wind and other factors that they will encounter in the open ground.

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