Chinese Silvergrass

Scientific Name: Miscanthus sinensis. The genus is derived from two Greek words—-miskos (stem) and anthos (flower)—a reference to its stalked spikelets. Sinensis is a Latin word meaning Chinese.¹

Common Name: Chinese silvergrass. This name gives us clues as to what it looks like and where it is from! It is native to places in Asia including China, Japan, and Korea, and the grass blades have silvery midribs. Other names include Japanese silver grass, maiden grass, and eulalia.^1,2

Family: Poaceae (Grass Family). With around 11,000 species, you might not be surprised to hear that grasses are found on all continents! Grasses are an important source of food across the world—like wheat, oats, barley, and rye! Corn and bamboo are grasses too!

What characteristics do grasses share? In general, they are not aquatic, have fibrous roots, and often have well developed horizontal stems from which new plants may grow. The usually erect stems have grass leaves composed of two parts—the blade (yep, a blade of grass!) and the sheath (the part of the leaf encircling the stem). The leaves grow alternately at the nodes of the stem and have parallel veins. Grasses are also adapted to withstand grazing and fire. There are many different strategies that grasses use to reproduce. Some grasses reproduce through cross pollination, while others are able to self-fertilize or spread clonally through underground horizontal stems. Although they may appear similar, sedges (Cyperaceae family) and rushes (Juncaceae family) differ enough that they are placed in their own families.^3,4

Average Height: 3-7 feet

Description: A perennial, warm season grass with short rhizomes that grows in dense, rounded clumps. Long, narrow leaf blades are only about ⅜” wide but 3–4’ long with toothed edges and a prominent, silvery midvein (remember, its common name is Chinese silvergrass!). Dense, fan-shaped to oval panicles with more than 15 branches are 8–10” long and appear at the end of stems in Sep–Nov. Flower clusters called spikelets have hairs at the base that are twice as long as the spikelet and awns extending up to ½” from the tip. Foliage and flowerheads become beige by winter. Seeds are dispersed by wind and birds.^1,3,6,7

Bloom time: Sep – Nov

Notes: There are dozens of different cultivars—some with leaves that are variegated with yellow rather than the common green-leaved variety. It continues to be used frequently in landscaping despite the fact that it is invasive, spreading on roadsides and in disturbed areas, sometimes very aggressively.^1,2,6

Range: Originally from eastern Asia, Chinese silvergrass was introduced to North America for ornamental purposes and has since escaped and become established in 25 states. It is considered highly invasive! It’s found primarily in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont of Virginia, and less often in the mountains.² Its range extends from Massachusetts and New York west to Michigan (including Ontario), south to Louisiana, and east to Florida, and can also found in Colorado and California.⁵

Geology/Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained soil, but tolerant of many soils from sandy to heavy clay.¹ In Virginia, it’s particularly invasive on mafic soils in the central and southern Piedmont.² Native grasslands on mafic soils are some of the most species-rich ecosystems in eastern North America, and invasive species like Miscanthus sinensis threaten to destroy that biodiversity, so do your part and do not plant this species, and if you have it in your garden, please remove it!

Habitat: Often used in landscaping, but it has become invasive and can be found on roadsides and in old fields and disturbed areas.^5,6

Flora associations: Typically found in landscaping or escaped to disturbed areas. Here in the park, it is growing near natives such as eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), tulip-tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), yellow prairie grass (Sorghastrum nutans), and goldenrod (Solidago sp.), as well as non-natives like Brazilian vervain (Verbena brasiliensis) and Chinese lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata).

Fauna associations: As an introduced species, Chinese silvergrass did not evolve together with insects that are native to our area. However, the miscanthus mealybug (Miscanthiococcus micanthi), also an introduced species, feeds on it, and songbirds will eat the seed.^6,8 In its native range in Asia, it is used to feed domestic livestock and is used by birds for nesting.⁹

Human associations: In North America, Chinese silvergrass is used as an ornamental plant for landscaping. In its native range in Asia, some examples of uses include thatching roofs, making yellow dye, and planting to help prevent erosion.^6,9

Remember, even though it may be pretty to look at, Miscanthus sinensis is an invasive species which is highly damaging to our ecosystems. Do not plant it!

1 “Miscanthus Sinensis – Plant Finder.” Missouribotanicalgarden.org, 2025, www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285333&isprofile=1&basic=miscanthus. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.

2 “Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora | Miscanthus Sinensis Anderss.” Vaplantatlas.org, 2025, www.vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=1611&search=Search. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.

3 Weakley, A.S., J.C. Ludwig, and J.F. Townsend. 2012. Flora of Virginia. Bland Crowder, ed. Foundation of the Flora of Virginia Project, Inc., Richmond. Fort Worth: Botanical Research Institute of Texas Press, pp. 1281-1282,1315.

4 Campbell, Christopher S. “Poaceae – Characteristic Morphological Features.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2019, www.britannica.com/plant/Poaceae/Characteristic-morphological-features. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024.

5 “NatureServe Explorer 2.0.” Natureserve.org, 3 Jan. 2025, explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.147438/Miscanthus_sinensis. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.

6 “Miscanthus Sinensis (Chinese Silvergrass, Chinese Silver Grass, Eulalia, Japanese Silver Grass, Maidengrass, Maiden Grass, Susuki) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.” Plants.ces.ncsu.edu, plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/miscanthus-sinensis/. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.

7 Barkworth, Mary E. “Miscanthus Sinensis – FNA.” Floranorthamerica.org, 11 May 2021, floranorthamerica.org/Miscanthus_sinensis. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

8 Frank, Steven, and James Baker. “Mealybugs | NC State Extension Publications.” Content.ces.ncsu.edu, 1 Aug. 2010, content.ces.ncsu.edu/mealybugs. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.

9 Waggy, Melissa A. 2011. Miscanthus sinensis. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov /database/feis/plants/graminoid/missin/all.html Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.

Definitions:

Awn: A narrow, bristlelike appendage.

Mafic: A rock containing abundant dark minerals like amphibole and pyroxene. Soils weathered from these rocks are usually rich in iron, magnesium, and calcium.

Panicle: An elongated cluster of flowers with multiple branches, where the flowers bloom starting at the bottom and moving upwards.

Rhizome: A horizontal, underground stem from which new plant may grow.

Spikelet: A flower structure made up of a spike of tiny flowers without petals, enclosed at the base by bracts.