Good plant #36 -Miscanthus Sinensis 'Ferner Osten'

 

My favourite tall ornamental grass is Miscanthus Sinensis Malepartus.  This is the dwarf version in my opinion.   Like the taller variety, it has a really long season of interest:

• In spring, you get purple tinged grass shoots
• In early summer, you get a plethora of graceful leaves
• In late summer/ autumn, you get the same gorgeous leaves combined with shimmering red flower heads which turn golden
• In winter, you get yellowy golden leaves and seed heads which maintain their integrity right through to the end of the winter

Just like the taller variety, it will tolerate most soils and sun conditions but does best in  fertile well-drained soil in full sun. To maintain this plant, in very late winter or very early spring (but not in frosty conditions) cut back all of the growth to about 4 inches from the ground.  Be careful not to damage any new shoots of grass.

This dwarf version is just as easy to propagate as the taller variety.  In early spring I just drive a sharp spade through the middle and replant one half and backfill the gap with some soil based compost.  Unsurprisingly the taller Malepartus and this smaller Ferner Osten look great in combination.

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