Morning Light Maiden Grass

Ornamental grasses have become vital parts of every garden landscape, and of them all, none are as striking and beautiful as the maiden grasses, also called silver grass or eulalia grass. With tall red plumes in late summer and fall, and slender leaves that rustle in the breeze, this majestic ornamental grass is perfect for larger beds and specimen planting. Of all its varieties, the Morning Light Maiden Grass stands out as uniquely striking and desirable. Its leaves are especially slender, and their fine white edge makes the whole plant sparkle and shimmer in a most extraordinary way. Planted as a solitary specimen on a lawn it is stunning. Grown along a stream or by a pond it is a joy. Groups of this grass fill large areas with beauty, and it takes just one act of maintenance a year to keep it always beautiful. It remains striking and dramatic all winter, holding well even when the snow falls, and in containers around a pool, or on a patio, nothing can beat it for making a refined and elegant design statement. The possibilities for using this plant are endless, and no matter where you put it, it will be an instant winner.

Growing the Morning Light Maiden Grass

Size and Appearance

The Morning Light Maiden Grass is a perennial grassy plant, forming a dense clump of leaves. It is non-invasive, so it doesn’t spread it all directions. Instead it stays as a large clump, looking wonderful, but never taking over. The leaves are slender – no more than ½ inch wide at their widest – but they grow 3 to 4 feet long. They form a dense clump, arching over gracefully to make a rounded dome of foliage up to 4 feet wide. The leaves have a silvery mid-rib and a long tapering tip. Along the outer edges of the leaf is a thin margin of white, and it is this that reflects the light and makes this plant shine and shimmer in the sunlight – a stunning effect.

In late summer the flower stalks emerge from the center of the leafy clump, rising above the leaves and reaching to around 6 feet tall. These unfurl into slender clusters of grass flowers, open like an upward spray or a whisk. They are dusky pink to reddish beige, and in a breeze they sway back and forth above the foliage in an entrancing fashion.

The flower stalks remain attractive all through fall, and both the flowers and the leaves turn dusky golds and tans as they die, which will not happen in warmer zones until well into the winter. They do not collapse, but remain standing all through the winter months, and when snow falls on them it creates a charming and captivating effect. For most of the year this plant is a picture of beauty, as it passes through the subtle changes of the seasons. Birds are attracted to it and play among the leaves.

Using the Morning Light Maiden Grass in Your Garden

Wherever you have sunny places in your yard, you can grow this beautiful plant. Use it as a lawn specimen on a lawn of any size. A group makes a beautiful backdrop to flowering shrubs or roses. A very modern, minimalist thing to do is to plant a bed entirely with this grass, which is especially attractive around a townhome, or in a courtyard – less is more. For group plantings, space the plants 3 feet apart in a cluster. Use scattered plants in a bed covered with gravel and a few boulders – voila! Your garden is done. Grow this plant along a stream, or beside a pond, where the leaves hanging over the water is a wonderful effect. Use it to hide pool equipment and pumps – it’s a natural companion to your swimming pool. It is excellent growing at beach cottages, tolerating both salt and dryness. Grow it in planters or tubs for striking specimens to stand on your patio or terrace, or along a driveway, wide path, or up a flight of garden steps.

Hardiness

The Morning Light Maiden Grass is hardy from zone 5 to zone 9, and it grows easily and well almost everywhere in those zones. It flowers in fall in zone 5, and in cool years, and when young, it may not flower at all, but it is still very valuable for its striking foliage.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun is best for this grass, but it will tolerate a little partial shade, if it has several hours of direct sun each day between late-spring and mid-fall. It will grow in most soils, if they are well-drained. Once established it tolerated drought well, and it resists salt-spray too. It has no pests or diseases, and both deer and rabbits leave it alone.

Pruning and Maintenance

The only maintenance needed for the Morning Light Maiden Grass is to cut down the leaves in late winter or early spring. This is a ‘warm season’ grass, so it will not sprout early, and there is no danger of damaging the new leaves when you cut it down to about 6 inches tall in early spring. It may take several weeks to sprout, waiting for warmer weather, so don’t assume it is dead, as new growth is normally slow. You can keep the area around it attractive in spring by planting spring bulbs in the spaces.

History and Origins of the Morning Light Maiden Grass

The Morning Light Maiden Grass is a variety of maiden grass, Miscanthus sinensis. Also called Chinese or Japanese silver grass, this plant grows naturally in both those countries, as well as in Taiwan and Korea. Wild plants are plain green, and they can reach 10 feet tall. Although invasive in some parts of America, the cultivated forms are safe to grow, and mostly sterile, producing no seed that can spread. The variety called ‘Morning Light’ or ‘Gracillimus Variegatus’ is noted for its more compact growth, extra-slender leaves, and the white margin along the leaf. It was introduced from Japan in 1976. This grass won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 2001.

Buying the Morning Light Maiden Grass at The Tree Center

Don’t miss the chance to buy this superb grass for your garden, you won’t regret it for a moment. But do it now, because this is a very popular grass, and it sells out very fast.