Miscanthus 'Morning Light'

If you are after a stunning accent plant from late summer and right through winter, then I highly recommended this tall perennial grass. A favourite of Piet Oudolf, for mixing into bold perennial and naturalistic gardens, this grass thrives in our hot/cold/windy NZ conditions, and looks amazing with perennials or NZ natives. 

I have been using it amongst tall perennials like Golden Rod (Solidago) and Aster. Also in gardens with Totara, lancewood and cabbage trees. It goes anywhere! Definitely best repeated around the garden - like any accent plant - so you do need more than one. Place it mid to back of a garden, so you can surround it with other plants for the (short) off season. Photo below shows it as just 1.2m high foliage before the seed heads have emerged, in March, with bold perennials around it like Yarrow, Golden Rod and Asters. Suits a slightly wild looking garden style.

Photo above of the same garden with all perennials died down over winter,  but Miscanthus still glowing. 

The main feature is the seed heads, which absolutely glow with the sun behind them. These open from quite late into summer, and do not need chopping back until late winter, so you get the effect of the bold glowing clump right through winter's dullest days. Locate them so the sun is behind them at least part of the day - to get the best effect of the 'glow'. Photos below taken in July. Note the russet colour of the winter leaves, too - adds another dimension to winter gardens. 

To cut back, in late August, I use a hedge trimmer to chop mine into short lengths (150mm) and use them as straw on the compost, or the straw can be left at the base of the plant if it is not going to blow around. Great mulch. 

I have been growing this variety for several years and it has never self-seeded. The best time to divide is in spring when it is in active growth mode. It has a solid root ball, so this is not easy task! I dig up the entire plant then split with either an axe or a hefty spade. Don't break it into too small chunks.

Photos below are both taken in our wild wet winter (2023). The seed heads are fluffy and gorgeous dried. One of the plants is in the centre, out the window, showing up orange foliage in the gloom. And the last photo was taken when seed heads were bedraggled and wet, but they spring back to fluffiness the next dry day! 

I have also grown what I assume is Miscanthus sinensis. This is much bigger and I sense could get a bit feral, but absolutely worth growing if there are no space limits.