Full sun is best to bring out its color. Tolerates relatively dry conditions with only infrequent irrigation but looks better when irrigated occasionally to regularly. Hardy to USDA Zone 6-7 (-10 degrees F). This very attractive cultivar is somewhat similar to Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracilimus' but smaller with a creamy-white variegation on the edge and mid-vein.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' is thought to have been in cultivation in Japan for over 100 years and was introduced into the US by Dr. John Creesh and Sylvester March in 1976 from the private collection of Dr. Masato Yokoi. 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 received our first plant of this great cultivar from Native Sons Nursery in Arroyo Grande, California in 1990 and listed it for sale in our 1991 catalog and have grown and sold it ever since. 

The information displayed on this page about Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.