Grass
Maiden Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' · Poaceae
Also called: Maiden Silvergrass, Chinese Silver Grass, Eulalia Grass
Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus') is a moderate-water grass well suited to Tucson and the low desert.
Maiden Grass at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Full sun for best form and bloom; benefits from light afternoon shade in the hottest Tucson exposures
- Mature size
- 4-6 ft tall (5-7 ft in bloom) and 3-4 ft wide; 'Gracillimus' is finer-textured than the species
- Growth rate
- Fast in the warm season
- Bloom
- Coppery to pinkish-bronze plumes opening, fading to fluffy silvery-white, Late summer to fall (September-October); plumes often persist into winter as dried seedheads
- Cold hardiness
- Cold hardy to about USDA zone 5; fully hardy in Tucson. Dormant in winter, regrows in spring.
- Soil
- Adaptable; prefers fertile, well-draining soil but tolerates clay and alkaline pH. Best with good drainage and supplemental moisture.
- Native range
- Species native to eastern Asia (China, Japan, Korea); 'Gracillimus' is a cultivated selection
- Best used as
- Specimen / focal accent, Screen or tall background planting, Cut and dried flower plumes, Poolside and large border plantings
- Wildlife
- Provides cover and nesting material for birds; plumes attract minor insect activity. Generally deer-resistant.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic to dogs, cats, and humans. Leaf blades have fine sharp edges that can cause minor skin cuts.
How to grow Maiden Grass in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Warm-season grass with moderate needs; the thirstiest of these five. Water deeply 2 times per week in peak summer heat and weekly in spring/fall; reduce in winter dormancy. Keep consistently moist the first season. Leaf tips may scorch if allowed to dry out in low-desert summer.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeder. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer once in early spring as new growth starts. Avoid excess nitrogen, which weakens stems and causes flopping. Amend Tucson's lean alkaline soil with compost at planting.
Pruning & care
Cut the clump back hard to 4-6 inches in late winter (February) before new growth; it is deciduous. Old clumps may die out in the center over years and can be divided in early spring to rejuvenate.
Notes
'Gracillimus' is a late-flowering, generally sterile selection that rarely sets viable seed, so it is much less of a reseeding concern than wild Miscanthus sinensis (which is invasive in some U.S. regions). A higher-water choice for Tucson; site it where its moderate water use fits a designed irrigation zone rather than a pure xeriscape.
Sources: Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Gardenia.net