What soil does Chinese silver grass grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy.

Is Chinese silver grass hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How much water does Chinese silver grass need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Chinese silver grass cost?

It sells for roughly €4.40 to €56 in local shops, depending on size.

Chinese silver grass

Miscanthus sinensis

Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis) is an ornamental grass. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €4.40.

Illustration of Chinese silver grass — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A large, clump-forming, arching ornamental grass sold in a great many cultivars: the dwarfs (such as 'Yakushima Dwarf', 'Adagio', 'Kleine Fontäne') reach 80 to 150 cm in flower, the big ones ('Malepartus', 'Silberfeder', 'Zebrinus', 'Strictus') 2 to 2.5 m. When choosing, look at the final height, the foliage (narrow green, white-edged with a silvery look, or cross-banded in yellow) and the flowering time: early cultivars carry their silvery, pinkish or reddish plumes from August, late ones such as 'Morning Light' only from late September or October, and in a cool year not at all. Plant it in sun in moist, fertile soil, leave the dry foliage standing over winter for show and protection and cut it back in late winter; it starts into growth late, only in April, so do not dig it out too early.

Watch out for

In Central Europe the early-flowering cultivars ripen seed in warm, wet years, and the wind-borne seed germinates in the garden and beyond it; escaped plants have been reported from Austria, Czechia, Germany and Switzerland. It is on the Swiss list of potentially invasive plants and on the German federal watch list; it is not on the EU, Hungarian or Slovak invasive lists. Near semi-natural land, water margins or waste ground choose a late-flowering or low-seeding cultivar (for example 'Gracillimus', 'Zebrinus', 'Morning Light' or 'Yakushima Dwarf'), or cut the plumes off before the seed ripens. It is slow to settle: it takes about three years to reach full size, but then stays in place for decades and a mature clump is hard to dig out. In shade it flops and flowers poorly. The leaf edges are finely toothed and sharp and will cut your hands. The dry foliage is highly flammable, so do not plant it right next to a building, barbecue or fire pit. Leaf rust can occur.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 1.8 m × 1.2 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous

Group	Ornamental grass
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1.8 m × 1.2 m
Ultimate size	0.8–2.7 m × 0.9–1.8 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	August–October, silver, pink, red, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	100 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €4.40

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
20-25 cm	approx. €14
25-30 cm	approx. €15
30-40 cm	approx. €9.10
40-50 cm	approx. €9.70
40-60 cm	approx. €15
60-80 cm	approx. €16
70-80 cm	approx. €27
size not stated	approx. €4.40 – €56

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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