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Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus (Large Silver Grass) - A large semi-evergreen clumping grass that grows to 6 to 8 feet tall with 1 1/2" wide green leaves. Similar to the species, Eulalia Grass, Miscanthus sinensis, but has wider leaves, thicker stems and a more erect habit. It also does not go fully deciduous in coastal California the way the Miscanthus sinensis cultivars do. Like the species it flowers in late summer and fall.
Grow in full sun or light shade with regular water. Hardy to USDA Zone 6 (-10 degrees F). This is a large, lush grass that has a tropical feel and it retains some green foliage through winter in our mild climate. It can be cut down in mid-winter or just about any other time to reduce its mass.
Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus was described as Miscanthus condensatus from a location in coastal Japan in the Hachijoo Provence by the Austrian botanist Eduard Hackel in 1899. In 1987 it was made a subspecies of Miscanthus sinensis by the Japanese botanist Tetsuo Michael Koyama. In most current taxonomical databases this subspecies is listed as a form of Miscanthus sinensis. The name Miscanthus was given to this genus of perennial grasses native to Japan and the Philippines by the 19th century Swedish botanist Nils Johan Andersson. It comes from the Greek words 'miskos' which means "stem" or "stalk" and 'anthos', meaning "flowers" in reference to the seed heads having stalked spikelets. The specific epithet refers to this plants native habitat in China but it can be found growing naturally throughout temperate Asia. The varietal name condensatus, means "crowded together" in reference to the dense clumps it forms.
We first received the variegated Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan' in 1992 from John Greenlee and offered it in our catalogs from 1993 until 2008. Our specimen plant of this variety sported non-variegated culms which we selected out sold as Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus. We also previously grew the smaller and more heavily variegated Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cabaret'.
The information displayed on this page about Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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