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Products > Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan'
 
Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan' - Cosmopolitan Silver Grass

San Marcos Growers has permanently closed as a business. This is an archived page preserved for informational use.  
Image of Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan'
[2nd Image]
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Grass
Family: Poaceae (Gramineae) (Grasses)
Origin: Asia, East (Asia)
Variegated Foliage: Yes
Flower Color: Silver
Bloomtime: Summer/Fall
Height: 6-8 feet
Width: 4-5 feet
Exposure: Full Sun
Seaside: Yes
Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: < 0 °F
Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan' (Cosmopolitan Silver Grass) - A large semi-evergreen grass that grows to 6 to 8 feet tall with 1 1/2" wide leaves that have a strong creamy-white variegation along the leaf margins. Similar to Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus' but has wider leaves and a more erect habit.

Grow in full sun or light shade with regular water. Hardy to USDA Zone 6 (-10 degrees F).

Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan' was reportedly and introduction from Steve Schmidt of American Ornamental Perennials. 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. We first received this grass in 1992 from John Greenlee and offered it in our catalogs from 1993 until 2008. We had a large speciemn of Miscanthus 'Cosmopolitan' in our nursery garden but its tendency to sport non-variegated shoots helped with our decision not to continue growing this grass, but we do currently grow the entirely green Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus reversion that we selected from this variety and list just 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 'Cosmopolitan' 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.

 
We closed for regular business at the end of 2025 in order for the property to be developed for affordable housing.
Our gates remain closed but we will open them by appointment to interested parties as we liquidate remaining supplies and equipment.
 
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