Chinese reed: varieties, care & propagation

Harmonious design concepts can be created by using and combining Chinese reeds in perennial plants. Even in autumn and winter, the shoots still have an attractive appearance.

The Chinese reed (Miscanthus sinensis) is a low-maintenance perennial that, once established, also withstands periods of drought. In this article, we describe the properties, as well as the requirements for location and care of the Chinese reed in detail and also present the most important varieties in more detail.

Chinese reed: origin and properties

Elephant grass is a term that is sometimes used as a synonym for Chinese reed, but also for other species - another term for Miscanthus sinensis is Japanese stem flower grass. The Chinese reed belongs to the sweet grass family (Poaceae) and is firmly naturalized as a neophyte in Europe, North America and New Zealand. Typical locations include fresh ruderal areas, hillsides and waterfronts, and gravel banks of rivers at higher elevations. The perennial ornamental plant is a clumpy perennial that forms short rhizomes and grows densely in clumps. However, under suitable conditions, it also spreads through self-seeding. Depending on the location, the Chinese reed is summer green or evergreen and sufficiently hardy for us.

Miscanthus sinensis Depending on the variety, it can grow to heights of between one and four meters. The leaves of the Japanese stalked flowering grass strive upwards, hang slightly at the end and the leaf blades are hairy on the underside. From August to September, the Chinese reed forms fan-shaped panicles as inflorescences, the color of which can be white, pink or red with a silver tinge, depending on the variety. The elephant grass also belongs to the C4 plants and therefore has a very efficient form of energy metabolism, which allows the plant to keep the stomata on the leaves closed on warm days and still allow photosynthesis operate. Another special adaptation allows the plant to use water very efficiently.

Tip: Next to Miscanthus sinensis there are other types of Chinese reed. This includes the broadleaf Chinese reed (Miscanthus oligostachyus) and the giant Chinese reed (miscanthus x longiberbis; synonym: M. x giganteus), which is caused by a crossing of Miscanthus sinensis and the silver flag grass (Miscanthus sacchariflorus) has arisen.

How fast does Chinese reed grow? Depending on the total height of the Chinese reed, a daily increase of several centimeters can certainly be expected.

The most beautiful types and varieties

The variety of Chinese reed varieties is very large and some of them have already been evaluated by the Perennial Viewing Working Group. In the following we present the best and most beautiful varieties and also mention the other types.

• Miscanthus sinensis far East: The foliage of this variety has an extremely attractive reddish fall coloration in the fall. The flower spikes are also red and have a silvery-white tip. The growth height can be between 120 and 150 cm and a winter hardiness of up to -20 °C is given.

• Miscanthus sinensis ˈMorning Brightˈ: This variety has white, very narrow leaves with thin green stripes and is about 110 to 130 cm high. In normal summers ˈMorning Brightˈ will not develop flowers. The variety has excellent stability, high resilience and a very good decorative effect on the foliage. Winter hardiness is also about – 20 °C.

• Miscanthus sinensis ˈMorning Lightˈ: This Chinese reed only forms red-brown flowers in warm years from around the end of October. It reaches heights of between 160 and 210 cm and has excellent stability. The very narrow, green leaves have a white longitudinal stripe and are very attractive. The Chinese reed ˈMorning Lightˈ has a very high resilience and winter hardiness down to -20 °C.

• Miscanthus sinensis ˈStrictusˈ: The red-brown flowers of this hardy variety also only appear in warm years from mid-October. It convinces with a high growth rate and excellent stability. The grass-green leaves are covered with numerous cream-yellow horizontal stripes and are therefore very decorative. The variety also grows to a height of 160 to 210 cm and is hardy to -20 °C.

• Miscanthus sinensis ˈvariegatedˈ: This fast-growing variety only forms silvery red-brown flowers in warm years from mid-October and grows to a height of around 170 to 190 cm. Its green leaves have white edges and have an excellent effect. Here, too, the resilience and stability is extremely good and a winter hardiness of up to -20 °C is given.

Giant Chinese reed (Miscanthus x longiberbis; Syn.: M x giganteus)

As already mentioned, the giant Chinese reed is a hybrid of the silver flag grass (Miscanthus sacchariflorus) with Miscanthus sinensis developed. The arthybrid is also a perennial plant that can form short rhizome runners, so it grows a little more in width than Miscanthus sinensis. The leaves of the giant Chinese reed strive upright and hang over in an arch from about halfway. The central white stripe on the leaves is also characteristic. Its flowers are flag-like and can only be observed in our regions in warmer areas or in very warm years. The seeds that develop after flowering are not germinable, so there is no need to worry about seeding. The giant Chinese reed thrives very well in sunny locations on fresh and nutritious soil.

• miscanthus x longiberbis ˈMeidlˈ: This variety of the giant Chinese reed not only impresses with its stately height of 2.5 to 3.5 m, the purple-colored shoots at the beginning are also a beautiful aspect. The foliage forms very dense clumps over time, which means that ˈMeidlˈ could also be used as an excellent privacy screen. Winter hardiness is around -20 °C.

Tip: The vigorous silver flag grass is rarely used. It can grow to a height of between 80 and 150 cm and spreads quickly over a large area with the help of its runners. That is why in the culture of Miscanthus sacchariflorus strongly recommend a root barrier or other form of limitation. However, the silver flag grass can also spread through seeding. It prefers fresh to moist and nutrient-rich locations in a sunny location. It does not cope well with drought.

Broadleaf Chinese reed (Miscanthus oligostachyus)

the kind Miscanthus oligostachyus brings with it some characteristics that are somewhat different from the other species. Depending on the requirement, it can therefore represent an interesting alternative. What is striking is the low height of only about 60 to 80 cm - even in small gardens or pots you can set the broadleaf Chinese reed in the limelight. The bucket culture can also make sense in that the fast-growing species cannot spread unintentionally through its short foothills. The silver inflorescences are a bit simpler than those of the other species, but the flowering period begins as early as July. The attractive reddish-bronze fall color of the foliage should also be mentioned. Except for a fresh to moist soil, the broadleaf Chinese reed has no special requirements for its location. The plant is hardy down to around -30 °C.

Plant Chinese reed in tubs and beds

The location of the Chinese reed is at best in a sunny location and has moderately dry to fresh, well-drained and nutritious soil. However, the Chinese reed also proves to be adaptable and also thrives on soils that do not fully correspond to the ideal. The Chinese reed is not very sociable and is best planted individually or at most in groups of up to three specimens. The planting distance should be about 1.3 m. The Chinese reed can be planted from March to October - but spring is best, as the plant can establish itself well before winter. The need for a root barrier depends primarily on the species or variety's urge to spread. If you want to avoid spreading in any case, you can already bring in a root barrier when planting or plant the Chinese reed directly in a large bucket.

Pot planting should be considered especially for the silver flag grass, but possibly also for the vigorous giant Chinese reed or broadleaf Chinese reed. The pot should be about three times the size of the Chinese reed root ball. Depending on the growth rate of the plants, repotting may be necessary every year. The bottom of the container is filled with a drainage layer of expanded clay about 3 to 4 cm thick, so that the roots do not get too wet if too much is poured. Waterlogging has a negative effect on the Chinese reed. The substrate for filling should contain all the important nutrients and ideally have a good water storage capacity Miscanthus sinensis to be able to provide sufficient moisture. Our peat-free is ideal for this Plantura organic universal soil which can ensure a good and long-term water supply for the Chinese reed thanks to the coconut fibers it contains and the quality compost. The nutrient requirements of the plant are also covered with the fertilizers already contained. The soil is also ideal for enhancing the excavation outdoors. There, the planting hole is dug about twice as big as the root ball and the plant is finally planted just as deep as it was in the container. After the soil has been pressed, it is poured thoroughly.

Chinese reed as a privacy screen for the garden: The Chinese reed is very suitable for use as a privacy screen, as the plants form very compact clumps. The wider the leaves are, the more opaque the clumps become. The desired height also plays an important role in this case, so it should be considered when choosing a variety or species. The giant Chinese reed is used particularly frequently.

Chinese reed care: the most important measures

The Chinese reed can definitely be described as a care-intensive plant at a suitable location. There are only a few maintenance measures throughout the year, which we describe in more detail below.

Fertilize Chinese reed

In the field, fertilizing the Chinese reed once a year is sufficient. For this purpose, for example, mature compost or long-term fertilizer granules can be worked in on the surface. In the tub, the Chinese reed should be supplied with a liquid fertilizer about every two to three weeks during the vegetation period from the year after planting.

Pour right

Since the Chinese reed grows particularly well on fresh soil, a good water supply is very important. Depending on the location, this means more or less effort for irrigation. The soil should never dry out completely if possible, although well-established specimens can handle the occasional summer drought. Ideally, the soil should always be slightly damp - but it should not be wet either, as waterlogging has an unfavorable effect. Freshly planted specimens in particular should be watered regularly, about every two to three days, or the moisture should be checked at the beginning.

Cut Chinese reed

In the period from February to March you have to cut back the Chinese reed to about 10 cm above the ground. If a new shoot is already visible, you should of course only cut off above it. It makes perfect sense to leave the dried shoots over the winter, because they are not only very stable and thus also offer interesting accents in this season, but also serve as winter protection for the root ball. So that the stalks do not snap off or fall apart due to rain, storms or snow, they are best tied together with a string in autumn.

Is Chinese reed hardy?

As already mentioned above, the various Chinese reed species and varieties are reliably hardy to at least – 20 °C and therefore do not require any additional protection. Only newly planted or young specimens can do well with a layer of leaves or twigs around the reeds. When cultivating the Chinese reed in a tub, care should be taken that the soil in it does not freeze through. To prevent this, the bucket can be placed in a sheltered place such as a house wall. If you want to be on the safe side, wrap the bucket with fleece or bubble wrap. Watering should not be forgotten in the bucket culture, even in winter - the substrate should never dry out completely.

propagation

If Miscanthus sinensis if flowering should start in time, it can also lead to rich seed formation and self-sowing - this type of propagation, however, is not true to the variety. Depending on the type or variety, the Chinese reed itself also multiplies more or less strongly via short spurs of the rhizome and thus slowly grows in width. This form of propagation can be used very well if you want to multiply the Chinese reed yourself. The easiest way to do this is to divide the plant. The best time for this is in spring, when the shoots are cut back. This gives you a better idea of ​​the actual size of the plant and where to divide it. If only a section of the plant is to be removed, this can be done simply by cutting into the ground. However, if you want to divide the root ball into several individual parts in order to plant them elsewhere, it makes sense to dig up the whole root ball. The division is carried out with a sharp spade and the new section should immediately be buried and poured back into its new location. Sufficient irrigation should also be ensured in the next few days so that the Chinese reed can establish itself well in the new place after dividing.

Is Chinese reed poisonous?

In principle, the ornamental plant is not poisonous to animals such as dogs and cats or to humans. However, the Chinese reed is one of the plants that contains certain substances that can lead to a so-called phototoxic reaction on skin contact and sunshine. The substances therefore react with sunlight and become toxic as a result. This can cause reddish rashes and blisters to appear on the skin, somewhat resembling sunburn. Symptoms here are mostly itching and burning of the affected area. It is therefore better to wear gloves when doing maintenance work. The sharp edges of the leaves are also not exactly harmless, which is why animals should be prevented from nibbling on the grass to prevent injuries to their mouths.

If you are now interested your garden will be even more diverse with different hardy grasses want to design, then you can be inspired in our article.