Chinese Miscanthus or Miscanthus sinensis is an ornamental plant that looks like an ordinary reed or cereal. Homeland - China, Korea, South Kuril Islands.
In the wild, the plant grows in lowlands in well-lit areas. The bush responds positively to high humidity of air and soil.
Characteristics of Miscanthus: varieties and varieties
There are many types and varieties of Miscanthus, which are characterized by different requirements for care and external conditions of growth.
Miscanthus sugar-flowered or Miscanthus sugar-colored most often grows in areas with high humidity. The height of the cereal reaches 2 meters. The leaf plates are thin, have a pale green color. Silver panicles with a pink tint.
Chinese reeds
This is a heat-loving representative of the flower with the most intense growing season. The flowering period under favorable conditions begins in July and continues until the start of frost. The variety tolerates severe cold well, does not require the construction of special shelters. Before lowering the temperature, it is advisable to mulch the soil around with hay or finely cut grass.
Sugarflower variety
Giant Miscanthus - a variety bred by breeders, is a complex hybrid plant. High erect shoots reach 3 meters, drooping leaves are narrow - only 25 mm wide.
The leaf plate is dark green, with a central white stripe. Outwardly, culture resembles a fountain. During the flowering period, the plant appears pale pink panicles, which at the end of the process become silver.
Attention! When cooling, this species may not bloom.
To plant this species is best on the back of the yard, since at the end of summer the lower leaves dry out and have an unpresentable appearance.
Giant miscanthus
One of the most decorative varieties is Miscanthus Chinese Gracilimus. The oldest representative of the species. External signs of the plant:
- round shape of the bush;
- bright red flowers;
- wilted foliage of a golden color.
Miscanthus Gracilimus begins to bloom very late in the fall, therefore, in species with prolonged cold and short summers, this species does not bloom. The total height of the bush is more than 2 meters. The size of the cereal depends on the habitat. The plant reaches maximum growth in the shade and at high humidity.
Miscanthus Moning Light is a powerful rounded bush. The variety can be planted even in wetlands to decorate the pond. Green leaf plates of the plant at the edges have a white frame on both sides.
Due to the long period of preservation of decorativeness, the variety has been the favorite of all gardeners and designers for many years. In the fall, Moning Light can be painted in the most unusual colors: yellow, brown, burgundy. Even in winter, this allows the bush to remain a decoration of the garden.
Additional Information. Cereal blooms only in sunny places, the flowering period is from August to October.
Miscanthus Flamingo is a very beautiful representative of this species. Plant height can reach 2 meters. Inflorescences are larger than in other varieties and are painted in saturated pink. The leaf plate is long and narrow, green.
There are white frequent stripes on the leaves of Miscanthus Streaktus. The height of the culture in adulthood is 3 meters. Flowers have a red tint.
Moning Light
Miscanthus Purpurescens is the most compact of the varieties. The height of the bush reaches only 1.5 meters. In autumn, the leaves turn dark orange with a red tint. If the bush is planted in a dry place, the process of growth will be much slower than in wetlands. The variety does not perceive sandy and clay soils.
Miscanthus Little Zebra. The name is due to the appearance of the cereal. On each sheet he has transverse stripes of beige color. Plant height varies depending on the habitat - from 2.5 to 3 meters.
Little zebra
Miscanthus Goliath in adulthood reaches 2.7 meters. Leaves of usual green color. Flowers are formed late, in late summer - early autumn, and have double staining. Inflorescences are mainly white, the tops are pink.
Planting a plant
For plants of the Miscanthus species, outdoor planting and care require a number of mandatory measures. Choosing the right place is an extremely important aspect, because in joint plantings the plant behaves very aggressively and other flowers can survive.
Planting and caring for Miscanthus are carried out in fenced areas. Fences are dug 20 cm deep and the elevated level must be at least 10 cm. This height of the fence is due to the ability of the root system to "jump" over small elevations.
Seed planting
Pretreatment of planting material is not required. Seeds are planted in individual containers, best in peat tablets. In spring, seedlings can be transplanted into the open ground. The bush reaches its peak of growth only in the 3-4th year.
Planting seedlings
Due to the short growing season, experts recommend purchasing only adult planting material. Delenka of a young plant does not have time to develop and it is enough to get stronger after a transplant or planting.
Watering and loosening the soil
The plant needs high humidity. It must be abundantly watered from the hose. At elevated temperatures, the volume of water procedures increases to avoid death of the seedling.
At a young age, in the first two years, the ground near the bush is carefully weeded. Since the cereal grows very quickly, subsequent weeding is not required. Loosening the soil around it is not necessary.
Breeding methods
Transplantation is carried out only at the time of the beginning of the dying off of old stems in the middle of the bush. Due to the fact that the culture does not tolerate this procedure, it is better to combine it with plant propagation by the division method.
It is important to approach the transplant as responsibly as possible. After this procedure, the cereal is restored for a long time and painfully. Division of the bush can be performed in autumn or spring.
The longest way to propagate shrubs is seed.
Fertilizers and fertilizers
For proper development and growth, it is important to feed the cereal plant in a timely manner. In the first year, young grass cannot be fertilized. In the second half of May, a urea solution prepared according to the instructions is introduced under the bush. At the beginning of summer, humates are treated, for example, with Humine. At the end of the summer season, the soil is fertilized with phosphorus-potassium preparations.
Important! Failure to comply with fertilizer application can result in the death of Miscanthus.
Plant transplant
The description of the bush transplant process is fully consistent with the division propagation method. A part of the bush is planted in a previously prepared fenced place, the soil must be carefully irrigated. After transplantation, the plant needs timely top dressing and maintaining the necessary humidity.
Miscanthus pruning
In the fall, you do not need to cut the plant. Stems and leaves are not recommended to be cut, as they serve as a natural defense of the cereal during the cold season. In spring, only dead leaf plates are cut, because the plant grows late and grows very poorly.
Pests and diseases
Grain is resistant to all known diseases and practically does not respond to pests. The only thing that can destroy him is drought. In such periods, the plant instantly dies.
Remember! Timely and regular watering is the key to a healthy and strong plant.
The flowering period and care during this period
Flowering in most species begins in June and can last the entire summer period. Spikelets reach a length of 1 cm and are inside loose panicles. Inflorescences change color as they mature.
During the flowering period, the plant needs to be looked after more carefully: it requires abundant moisture in the soil and air. Watering should be carried out in the early morning or late evening. For more intense flower formation, cereal is fed with complex fertilizers.
Winter preparations
The perennial bush is characterized by increased winter hardiness. To preserve the culture, it must be covered with special agromaterials, for example, moss sphagnum. To protect Miscanthus from wind load, a wooden frame should be built around it. Before forming a shelter, the bush is covered with a thick layer of mulch on all sides.
Miscanthus in winter
Tip. Shelter and frame need to be prepared in advance, as a sharp drop in temperature will destroy the plant. The building can be opened only after the end of spring frosts.
Use in landscape design
Chinese designers often use Miscanthus to decorate the shoreline of water bodies. The plant also looks good as a frame for lawns. Florists use inflorescences and panicles to create floral arrangements. Perennials of this species are recommended for use in both group and single stands.
For reference. The trend of 2019 was the cultivation of Miscanthus on the roofs.
Garden decoration
Thanks to the preservation of external decorativeness throughout the season, the Chinese Miscanthus won the love of not only amateur gardeners, but also professional designers. The plant is absolutely unpretentious in care. It is for this reason that he will find a place in any garden, even in the most sophisticated.
