Miscanthus Maiden Grass

What is Miscanthus Maiden Grass?

Miscanthus maiden grass can be called miscanthus (botanical name) or maiden grass (common name). This ornamental grass is a superb option for the home landscape. It is adaptable, low maintenance, pest, deer, rabbit, and disease resistant and drought, heat, pollution, and salt tolerant. Maiden grass is very easy to grow. It can be used in borders, mixed beds, and mass plantings. It even stands out as a feature plant or a unique privacy screen.

How to Care for Maiden Grass

Plant maiden grass in USDA growing Zones 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 for ideal results. Miscanthus will grow and flower best in full sun, but some shade is fine especially in warmer climates. These ornamental grasses grow in any well-drained soil. Keep newly planted maiden grass watered well. The ground should be moist for the first couple months and preferably through the first summer for best results. Maiden Grass is drought tolerant once it is established, but a deep watering once weekly during periods of drought will keep your plant at its healthiest. If your soil is nutrient weak or your grass doesn’t seem to be growing or blooming well feed it our slow release fertilizer in spring. Learn more on Ornamental grass care.

When to Prune Maiden Grass

Maiden grass can be trimmed back in late winter or early spring. Anytime when they are dormant is a great time to prune back this grass. We recommend trimming them in early spring right before they emerge from dormancy so you can enjoy the winter interest in your landscape. These grasses brown out when they are dormant, but maintain their shape and even their plumes so they continue to add to the landscape throughout the year. Light trimming of damaged foliage can be done at any time.  

How to Prune Maiden Grass

You can use scissors, pruners, or loppers to trim back your maiden grass plants. Scissors can be used with smaller plants or ones with finer blades. Loppers should be used with larger plants to give you some distance and a stronger tool. In early spring, prune this ornamental grass back to 6 inches from the ground or less to prepare for new growth to emerge.

How to Divide Maiden Grass

Divide maiden grass In spring or early summer when they are actively growing. Use a shovel to chop your grass in sections. If you want to move the entire plant, dig up the whole plant and divide it into sections. Otherwise simply chop off chunks from the plant while it is still in the ground. Be sure each section has a chunk of roots. Water your existing plant and the newly planted pieces deeply after dividing. The newly planted pieces should be treated just like new plants. Water them deeply as least once per week for the first couple months. We do not recommend dividing maiden grass more often than every 3 or 4 years.

Where to Buy Miscanthus Maiden Grass

Buy miscanthus grass for sale online at PlantingTree. Our family owned and operated online plant nursery grows, sells, and ships plants and trees for sale. Our premium miscanthus plants are healthy, large grasses that are ready to plant. Scroll up to view our entire selection of maiden grass for sale. 

Types of Miscanthus Maiden Grass

Adagio Miscanthus Maiden Grass

Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'

Mature Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide

Adagio is a slow tempo in a piece of music and this reflects the way this graceful grass sways in the breeze. This dwarf miscanthus grass is drought, salt, and pollution tolerant. It has pink-bronze blooms in late summer and fall. The foliage is silver-green in color. The habit of this cascading ornamental grass is mounded. 

Cosmopolitan Miscanthus Maiden Grass

Miscanthus sinensis condensatus 'Cosmopolitan

Mature Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide

Cosmopolitan is a variegated maiden grass that has pale pink plumes. Its bladed foliage naturally arches. This ornamental grass adds texture and color to the home landscape and is great for cities and coastal regions. Miscanthus grass is pest and disease resistant. 

Morning Light Miscanthus Maiden Grass

Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'

Mature Size: 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide

With silver green foliage and red-bronze blooms, morning light maiden grass stands out in the landscape. This pretty decorative grass adds great texture and color to the landscape. The foliage blades are finer than other miscanthus, giving this variety a softer appearance. Plant this variety in a group for a stunning landscape feature.

Porcupine Miscanthus Maiden Grass

Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'

Mature Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide

Porcupine miscanthus grass is a variegated variety that grows upright. This vibrant ornamental grass has green and yellow horizontal bands that add strong color and a great look. The pretty red plumes bloom from late summer through fall.

Browse our collection of ornamental grasses for more options.

Other Popular Ornamental Grasses:

Pink Muhly Grass

White Cloud Muhly Grass

Pampas Grass

Black Mondo Grass