Giant Maiden Grass is a cultivar of Miscanthus sinensis. It is a warm-season perennial grass that forms a tall, upright clump of thick stems up to 10 feet tall (sometimes 14 feet) and a cascade of broad green leaves that turn yellow in fall. The leaves are broader than most miscanthus varieties, and form dense clumps.Silvery plumes emerge in summer above the foliage. Giant Maiden Grass does best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Plants should be divided, in spring, every few years, to maintain freshness. Foliage can be left standing all winter, however, it should be pruned to the ground early to mid-spring before foliage appears to make way for new growth. This cultivar is considered sterile and not invasive, but it is recommended to plant only one cultivar to minimize cross-pollination which can lead to viable seed, or to choose truly sterile alternatives like Miscanthus × giganteus . Use as a specimen, in a border or mass planted for screening. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems More information on Miscanthus sinensis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheCeratostigma plumbaginoidesCleome Señorita Blanca® 'Inclesbimp'Spiraea thunbergii 'Ogon'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping; Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Upright to arching, broadly linear, wide leaves and thin silver midrib. Foliage turns golden colours in fall
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gray/Silver; Pink
Flower value
Good Cut; Good Dried; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower detail
Extra-large panicles in late summer open with a pink tint