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Morning Light Ornamental Grass Miscanthus sinensis

Flower Season
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter
Mature Size
5' 3' 1.5m 91cm
Height: 4' - 5'
Spread: 3'
Height: 1.2m - 1.5m
Spread: 91cm
Proven Selections
Award Winner
  • Details

    48 - 60 Inches
    36 - 36 Inches
    36 - 36 Inches
    1.2m - 1.5m
    91cm
    91cm

    Features

    Graceful habit with delicately striped leaves and late summer blooms

    Award Winner
    Winter Interest
    Deadheading Not Necessary
    Salt Tolerant
    Attracts: 
    Birds
    Resists: 
    Deer
    Grass: 
    Grass

    Characteristics

    Plant Type: 
    Perennial
    Height Category: 
    Tall
    Garden Height: 
    48 - 60 Inches 1.2m - 1.5m
    Spacing: 
    36 Inches 91cm
    Spread: 
    36 Inches 91cm
    Flower Colors: 
    Red
    Flower Shade: 
    Red
    Foliage Colors: 
    Green
    Foliage Colors: 
    Silver
    Foliage Shade: 
    Variegated
    Habit: 
    Upright
    Container Role: 
    Thriller

    Plant Needs

    Light Requirement: 
    Part Sun to Sun

    The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).

    Maintenance Category: 
    Easy
    Bloom Time: 
    Early Winter
    Bloom Time: 
    Late Summer
    Bloom Time: 
    Mid Winter
    Bloom Time: 
    Early Fall
    Bloom Time: 
    Late Winter
    Bloom Time: 
    Mid Fall
    Bloom Time: 
    Late Fall
    Hardiness Zones: 
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
    Water Category: 
    Average
    Soil Fertility Requirement: 
    Average Soil
    Soil Fertility Requirement: 
    Poor Soil
    Soil PH Category: 
    Acidic Soil
    Soil PH Category: 
    Neutral Soil
    Uses: 
    Border Plant
    Uses: 
    Container
    Uses: 
    Dried Flower
    Uses: 
    Grass
    Uses: 
    Landscape
    Uses: 
    Mass Planting
    Uses: 
    Specimen or Focal Point
    Uses Notes: 

    Use in beds, borders and large containers

    Maintenance Notes: 

    Morning Light is a warm-season grass. Warm-season grasses won't start growing until mid to late spring or even early summer. Their major growth and flowering happens when the weather is hot. They will usually turn shades of brown for the winter.

    Cut back warm season grasses in fall or by mid to late spring. Warm season grasses turn shades of brown as the weather turns colder. Once your warm season grasses turn brown you can trim them back at almost any time. If you like to tidy your garden in fall or if you live in an area where fire can be problematic trim warm season grasses so they are just a few inches tall.

    If you live in an area where fire generally isn't a problem you can leave the dried grasses and seed heads in your garden for winter interest. Snow or ice encrusted ornamental grasses can be quite beautiful.

    If you leave the trimming until spring try to make sure to cut them back to the ground (you can leave a couple of inches) by late spring, before new growth begins.

    Not all ornamental grasses look good through the winter, trim back those that don't look good in the fall.

    Divide warm season grasses anytime spring through mid-summer. All ornamental grasses should be divided when they are actively growing but not while they are flowering. If the plants are dormant when they are transplanted they won't establish a good root system. Warm season grasses generally start growing in late spring or early summer and have their active growth period during the heat of the summer. Warm season grasses will tend to bloom in mid to late summer.

    Foliage should be left standing throughout the winter for visual interest and to provide protection for the crowns. Cut foliage to the ground in late winter just before new shoots appear.

  • 3 Reviews

    5
    2
    4
    1
    3
    2
    1
    Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.
    • Over the past five years I have come to truly appreciate the magnificent beauty of this plant. At first, I didn't fully appreciate it; now it is the focal point around which all other plants reside. Soft, gentle motion in a breeze, tolerates my amended clay soil, hot summer temps of northern California, and looks good in the fall, Cut back in early spring. The variegation of the leaves complements every other planting. So happy.

      Jane
      , California
      , United States
      , 2 years ago
    • Absolutely my favorite. Plant just glows, and looks shimmery in the light. Will be planting more next year.

      Marilee Snyder
      , Ohio
      , United States
      , 13 years ago
    • This grass is delicate looking, yet very easy to grow. I cut it back early in the spring and leave it through the winter as an ornament.

      Trisha
      , New York
      , United States
      , 13 years ago
  • 4 Awards

    Award Year Award Plant Trial
    2005 Best Grasses at the Zoo Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
    2005 Best Grasses at the Zoo Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
    2005 Best Grasses at the Zoo Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
    2005 Best Grasses at the Zoo Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
  • 1 Recipe

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