Content
Photos and descriptions of miscanthus represent a beautiful herbaceous perennial with late flowering. It’s easy to grow crops on the site, but you should first familiarize yourself with the rules.
Characteristics and description of miscanthus
Miscanthus is a perennial plant of the Poaceae family. It has creeping rhizomes that can go 6 m underground and straight stems. The leaves are leathery, scaly, very narrow, and green in color. Contrasting stripes may be present on the surface.
During the decorative period, the perennial produces long shoots with fan-shaped panicle inflorescences.The culture looks rather discreet, but is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and special endurance.
Miscanthus sizes
The crop belongs to the category of medium-growing or tall-growing perennials. The stems of the plant reach 70-300 cm above the ground, depending on the variety. Thanks to creeping rhizomes, the bushes grow widely - the diameter can be more than 1 m.
Where does miscanthus grow?
In its natural environment, the perennial can be seen most often in Southeast Asia. Some varieties are also found in Africa and the Far East. Miscanthus prefers well-moistened, loose soil. The perennial loves sunlight and settles mainly in open areas.
When does miscanthus bloom?
The flowering time of miscanthus depends on the variety, but usually the decorative period begins at the end of summer and lasts until mid-October. In August, long, cream-colored panicle inflorescences appear above the thick green leaves.
Miscanthus inflorescences can reach 20-30 cm in length
An interesting feature of the perennial is that with the onset of cold weather, only its leaves dry out. The inflorescences remain throughout the winter.
Miscanthus winter hardiness
Miscanthus has a winter hardiness zone of 4-5, but specific hardiness indicators depend on the variety. On average, the crop can withstand cold temperatures down to -34 °C. Low temperatures do not harm the perennial, especially if you take care of insulating the roots in advance. The panicle inflorescences become silvery in the cold season, but remain attractive.
Varieties and types of miscanthus with photos and names
Miscanthus varieties for the Moscow region and regions with harsher climates are presented in a wide variety. Before planting a crop on a site, it is worth studying the characteristics of popular species.
Abundant flowering (Miscanthus floridulus)
The plant is distinguished by its rapid growth rate and good frost resistance. Almost does not need moisture, easily tolerates drought. At the end of summer it forms small ears, but with the early onset of cold weather it may not have time to set inflorescences.
The abundantly flowering species can reach 3-4 m above the ground
Oligostachyus (Miscanthus oligostachyus)
A low variety of perennial is often used not only for planting in the garden, but also for growing on the terrace or balcony. The inflorescences of Oligostachus are silvery-white with a pinkish tint, very beautiful, the leaves are striped. In autumn, the plates acquire a bright honey-orange color.
The height of the Oligostachus variety is only about 1.5 m
Giant (Miscanthus giganteus)
Miscanthus for planting in the Moscow region has straight stems up to 3 m above the ground. The leaves of the plant are wide, weeping, with a white stripe in the central part. The plates extend from the rhizome in all directions, thanks to which the perennial acquires a very decorative appearance. It blooms with pinkish panicles, which turn silver in winter.
Giant miscanthus may not bloom in cold regions, so it is usually planted in warm climates.
Chinese (Miscanthus sinensis)
The perennial plant reaches 3 m above the ground surface and has narrow linear leaves. It blooms with short spikelets collected in loose panicles.
Chinese miscanthus is the most popular among breeders and is represented by dozens of varieties
Sugarflower (Miscanthus sacchariflonis)
The heat-loving perennial grows up to 2 m above the ground. The leaves of the variety are drooping light green, the panicles are white or silvery-pink.
The period of decorative sugar miscanthus lasts from July to October
How to plant miscanthus
Miscanthus should be planted in open ground in the spring from late March to mid-May. The exact timing depends on the region - you need to wait until the soil thaws and warms up properly. A place that is illuminated and protected from the wind is selected on the site. The crop needs moist and fertile soil, loamy or sandy loam.
The miscanthus planting scheme is as follows:
- The selected area of the garden is dug up in advance.
- The soil is fertilized with organic matter and complex minerals are added to it.
- Planting pits are prepared for seedlings, approximately twice the size of the root system.
- Fill the holes halfway with nutrient soil.
- Place the seedlings in the center and straighten the roots to the sides.
- Sprinkle the plants with the remaining soil and compact the soil.
Immediately after planting, the perennial needs to be watered abundantly. It is also recommended to mulch the soil so that moisture evaporates from it more slowly.
Miscanthus care
If you provide good growing conditions for miscanthus, caring for it will be quite simple. You need to pay attention to several activities.
Watering miscanthus
Miscanthus in Siberia and the middle zone needs regular watering because it does not tolerate drought well. It should be moistened as the top layer of soil dries.
Water is usually added to the soil using a hose; the liquid is lukewarm and well settled.It is necessary to reduce the intensity of moisture only during periods of heavy rain. In this case, the perennial will receive a sufficient amount of moisture naturally.
Top dressing
In order to safely grow miscanthus from seeds after transplanting into the ground, it is necessary to regularly feed the perennial. Fertilizers begin to be applied in the second year; a urea solution is added to the soil in mid-May, and humate in liquid form is added to the soil in June.
At the end of July and August, it is recommended to feed the crop with potassium and phosphorus. These substances strengthen the plant’s endurance and ensure its successful wintering.
After each watering, the soil in the area with miscanthus needs to be loosened shallowly.
Miscanthus pruning
Miscanthus must be pruned as it is prone to aggressive growth. The procedure is carried out twice during the season - in spring and late autumn. During pruning, all dried and rotten leaves and stems are removed, and sprouts that extend beyond the designated area are also eliminated.
Even when planting a herbaceous perennial, it is recommended to dig pieces of slate or iron around the perimeter of the flowerbed. They need to be buried at least 20 cm, the height of the border should be about 10 cm. The boundary line will prevent the ornamental plant from turning into a dangerous weed.
Miscanthus wintering
Most varieties are able to withstand cold temperatures down to -34 °C. However, with the onset of autumn, it is in any case recommended to build a shelter for perennials. Usually a frame structure is installed above the flowerbed and agrofibre is stretched over it. The roots are sprinkled with dry leaves or humus. If the winter is expected to be cold, spruce branches are additionally laid on top of the frame shelter.
Miscanthus wakes up quite late after winter - at the end of April or in May. But already with the onset of the first thaw, it is necessary to partially remove the cover from the perennial to prevent it from rotting.
How to replant miscanthus
You can replant miscanthus in the spring according to the standard scheme. It looks like this:
- A healthy and strong plant is dug out of the ground.
- Using a sharp knife, divide the perennial into several parts, leaving on each of them several shoots and a full-fledged root.
- The resulting seedlings are sent to a cool place for 3-4 days.
- Plants are buried up to 6 cm in individual onions in the garden.
The procedure is carried out in warm weather from April to mid-June. Plants older than four years need periodic replanting. The shoots in the center gradually die off, so the old bushes lose their decorative properties.
Miscanthus propagation
There are several ways to propagate crops in your dacha. Usually the division method or growing from seeds is used. Vegetative propagation is used only when absolutely necessary - the perennial reacts poorly to any injury and takes a long time to recover.
Growing from seedlings
To grow miscanthus from seeds, you need to start planting the plant in the fall. For the perennial, prepare a shallow container and fill it with a nutritious soil mixture. The seeds are buried to just 1 cm and germinated under a film until shoots form.
When the crop produces its first green shoots, the box will need to be moved to a lighted windowsill. The film is completely removed.
During winter, the perennial is grown at a temperature of about 20 ° C, if necessary, supplementing the seedlings with phytolamps. Care comes down mainly to moderate watering. With the onset of spring, miscanthus seedlings begin to be hardened off in the fresh air, and when warm weather sets in, they are transferred to open ground.
Miscanthus from seeds develops slowly and fully grows only by 3-4 years
Dividing the bush
The culture does not like replanting, but once every few years it is recommended to divide it along the rhizome for the purpose of rejuvenation. The perennial is removed from the soil and cut into 2-3 parts, after which the bushes are planted in separate holes.
It is recommended to treat the roots of the delenok with a growth stimulator and an infusion of wood ash. This will protect the culture from infections and speed up its engraftment.
Diseases and pests
The perennial has very high resistance to diseases and parasites. But they pose a certain danger to him:
- root rot - the disease leads to darkening and wilting of leaves and shoots;
Root rot affects miscanthus on marshy soil
- spider mite - an insect that attacks perennials in dry weather and entangles its stems and blades.
Spraying with warm water helps prevent spider mites.
To protect against fungi, it is recommended to treat the crop prophylactically with Bordeaux mixture or fungicides. Spraying should be done in early spring and autumn after flowering.
What does miscanthus go with in landscape design?
Photos of miscanthus in a flower bed show that the perennial goes well with other plants in the garden.The best neighbors for it are:
- lavender;
- fescue;
- gaura;
- sedum;
- purpurea coneflower;
- Japanese anemone;
- spotted sapling;
- Buenos Aires verbena.
It is recommended to plant miscanthus in the landscape in the background to create a decorative background. The herbaceous perennial gives the flowerbed lightness and airiness and emphasizes the beauty of bright flowers.
Miscanthus in the garden is planted along paths and facades
Conclusion
Photos and descriptions of miscanthus give an idea of a hardy perennial with simple care requirements. When growing, the main attention is paid to moisture - the crop does not tolerate drought well.
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