Miscanthus is a perennial tall cereal from the Acridifers family. In nature, it grows in the tropical zones of Australia, Asia and Africa. Some species have successfully adapted to temperate climates. They are used for landscaping gardens and winter safely. Miscanthus is good in group plantings in the middle of the lawn, as well as in the decor of freshwater shores and the creation of complex floral arrangements. Its strong straight stems, crowned with lush panicles and covered with long soft leaves, cannot but attract attention. No wonder he is called the "king of cereals." Also, the plant can be found under the name "fan".
Plant description
Miscanthus is a perennial herbaceous plant with a height of 80-200 cm. The branched rhizome goes deep into the ground up to 6 m, and underground horizontal processes are located at the very surface of the soil. They form lateral shoots, as a result, miscanthus grows very quickly to a spreading sod.
The foliage grows in a lush basal rosette, and is also located next to the entire length of the shoot. The inferno-like strap-like leaf plate is 5-18 mm wide and 10-50 cm long. In spring, shoots and leaves grow quickly and form a solid bright green mass. Already in early autumn, foliage acquires no less decorative straw-yellow or pinkish-yellow hue.
In July-September, the tops of the stems are crowned with fan-shaped panicles up to 30 cm long. They consist of long narrow spikelets of yellowish-green or pink color.
Types and varieties of Miscanthus
About 40 plant species are found in the Miscanthus genus. Many of them have found application in the household, but only a few are used for decorative purposes.
Miscanthus Chinese (Chinese reeds). Slender thickets 2.5-3 m high prefer a warm, humid climate. On a rigid linear foliage, a thick rib in the center is clearly visible. Single-flowered spikelets up to 7 mm long are collected in loose panicles with a shortened axis. Varieties:
- Blondo - forms thickets up to 2 m high, resistant to frost;
- Miscanthus zebrina (zebrinus) - bright green leaves of the plant are covered with whitish transverse stripes;
- Flamingo - a plant up to 2 m high in summer is decorated with long, soft panicles of pink color;
- Hinho - a high spreading turf is characterized by bright green leaves with golden transverse stripes;
- Nippon - vertical thickets up to 1.5 m high in autumn covered with reddish foliage;
- Variegatus - shoots about 2 m high are decorated with green leaves with white longitudinal stripes;
- Strictus - highly decorative thickets up to 2.7 m high consist of long bright green foliage with transverse white stripes and reddish inflorescences;
- Malepartus - a bush up to 2 m high has reddish-brown paniculate inflorescences that bloom in June and turn bright red in autumn.
Miscanthus is giant. The height of this spreading cereal can reach 3 m. It forms slender vertical thickets densely covered with strap-like, arched leaves. Bright green sheet plate reaches 25 mm wide. In the fall, the shiny surface becomes golden. In September, large panicles of pinkish-silver color open.
Miscanthus is sugar-flowered. The plant forms a wide, spreading turf about 1.5 m high. It adapts equally well to open sunny areas or flooded shores. The rhizome of this species is spreading and needs to be limited. Very narrow bright green leaves adorn the base of the shoots. In August, unusually beautiful silver panicles appear. The lush soft fans above the reddened foliage persist throughout the winter.
Breeding methods
Miscanthus propagates by seed and vegetatively. In February, mature seeds with fluffy tufts are sown without preliminary treatment in peat pots with moist sand and peat soil. After 1-2 weeks, thin sprouts appear. Seedlings contain bright ambient light and room temperature. In April-May, when the soil is fully warmed up to + 20 ° C, Miscanthus is planted in open ground. At first, only single thin blades of grass rise above the ground. A lush green bush forms by the end of 3-4 years after sowing.
Adult Miscanthus is more convenient to propagate vegetatively - by dividing the bush. The advantage of this method is the preservation of highly decorative varietal characteristics. In the spring or in the first half of summer, plants are dug up and parsed by the hands. Horizontal shoots are cut with a sharp blade. All manipulations must be carried out with great care, since the roots are easily damaged. The resulting delenki are immediately planted in the pits, deepening the root by 5-6 cm. During the month, the plants take root, therefore they need more frequent watering. Then the bush gives lateral processes.
Outdoor planting and care
The heat-loving Miscanthus is planted in open ground in the second half of spring, when the snow has completely melted and the soil warms up. For him, they choose well-lit, open areas, protected from gusts of cold wind. The soil must be fertile and moist. It is good if a freshwater pond is located nearby. Heavy clay soils and sandy soil are undesirable for planting Miscanthus, but the proximity of groundwater and periodic flooding of the site will not damage the plant.
Shallow pits are prepared for small bushes with a distance between plants of 20-50 cm.The roots of most species of miscanthus quickly spread and occupy the adjacent territory in order to obtain a compact, sprawling shoot and not to worry about removing undesired processes in the future. Before planting around the perimeter of the flower garden, a plastic tape 25-30 cm wide is dug into the ground. Since the creeping rhizome is located close to the surface, this barrier will become insurmountable.
The main care for Miscanthus in the garden is regular watering. For example, Chinese Miscanthus does not tolerate drought at all. If the plants are planted in fertile soil, then in the first year they do not need fertilizing. Next spring, the bushes are watered with complex mineral fertilizer, and in the summer - with a solution of rotted manure. The amount of nitrogen in the fertilizer must be limited, as it negatively affects the decorative effect.
As it grows, the lower part of the stems is exposed and needs additional decoration with undersized flowering plants. You need to select companions that normally grow in moist soil.
For the winter, a dried up, but still beautiful bush is not cut. It serves as protection for the roots and traps snowdrifts. Heat-loving varieties are additionally covered with fallen leaves or wrapped with a sheaf of non-woven material. The soil at the roots can be mulched with peat or loose soil. In early spring, cardinal pruning is performed. Remove all ground part.
Miscanthus has excellent immunity and is resistant to pests, so you will not have to protect it from germs and parasites.
Garden use
High green fountains of Miscanthus are used in single plantings in the middle of a green lawn, for decor of coastal zones, in mixborders, as well as for creating a screen or green hedge. The plant hides well unsightly farm buildings and unattractive corners in the garden. Lush bushes will be a great backdrop for the flower garden. They go well with peonies, astilbe, phlox, lilies, asters, solidago and ruffle. In turn, these flowers will hide the bare bottom parts of the stems. Lush panicles are often used to decorate bouquets, including dry flower arrangements.
Not without miscanthus and in the economy. Dry shredded shoots are high-calorie biofuels. Pellets for boilers are made from it. It is used in industry for the manufacture of paper and in agriculture as feed and litter for livestock.
