Miscanthus sinensis Cosmopolitan

The Miscanthus sinensis 'Cosmopolitan,' is a variety of Chinese silver grass with variegated foliage of great ornamental value. This grass forms a large graceful tuft, with a fountain-like habit, composed of broad green leaves striped with cream-white, as graphic as they are luminous. The plant blooms in late summer, offering a few inflorescences in the shape of red plumes turning beige-gold. Its growth dries in winter, but remains decorative. To be grown in full sun, in good garden soil not too dry in summer. A superb variety, to be highlighted in isolation or at the turn of an alley.

The eulalia 'Cosmopolitan' belongs to the Poaceae family. It is a cultivar obtained in Japan by Toyoichi Aoki around 1940. It is derived from Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus, a botanical species native to Japan. This large perennial grass with short rhizomes develops in a non-invasive tuft, it is described as clump-forming. The habit is initially upright in spring, then becomes cascading in summer. The plant reaches about 2 m in height when in flower, even more in fertile and moist soil, with a spread of 1 m. The leaves are wide (2-3 cm), very long, very flexible, of a fairly dark green color, with more or less wide cream and white streaks. At the end of a hot and long summer, in September, long floral stems emerge from the foliage, taking the form of silky digitate spikes 20 to 30 cm long, initially a wine-red, becoming beige at maturity. As they fade, they take on a golden-silvery hue. The plumes consist of tiny flowers that close a little afterwards, to reopen at maturity. They then take on a paler and more fluffy appearance.

Like many variegated plants, the growth of this Miscanthus Cosmopolitan is slow, count on 4 years to obtain an adult tuft from a pot. A deciduous plant, the leaves and floral spikes remain on the plant during winter and regenerate in early spring, a time when the plant will be pruned, not before!

The Miscanthus 'Cosmopolitan' is a grass for rather moist, draining, and rich soil, growing in the sun, which is quite rare among variegated plants. However, it is in partial shade that its white-variegated foliage will have the best effect. Very structuring, this grass can be used in a wild border, to partition a garden or in contrast with varied geometric forms in an architectural garden. It also has a great impact in a contemporary garden. To accompany it, think for example of large autumn asters, the Compact Winged Spindle which turns pink and red at the end of the season, perennial Sunflowers...

One of our favourites, as you may have guessed.