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Known as “the next Phragmites,” Miscanthus is an invasive grass that is common in gardens and along roadsides. Consider planting native ornamental grasses like Little Bluestem instead, which combine beauty with ecological benefits to local wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and various insects.
You are likely already familiar with Miscanthus without realizing it. They are popular ornamental grasses because of their attractive arching foliage and lush plumes, commonly planted as an accent piece along driveway entrances, residential gardens, and businesses. While the name Miscanthus refers to a genus of about 20 species, only a few species are used in horticulture. The most common ornamental species is Miscanthus sinensis, which has a variety of cultivars (over 100 known cultivars) and common names, such as Chinese silver grass and maiden grass. Miscanthus sinensis, in addition to another cultivated species called M. sacchariflorus (Amur silvergrass) are known to escape into natural areas and become invasive.
Why Miscanthus Grasses Get the Thumbs Down
Both Miscanthus sinensis and M. sacchariflorus are perennial clumping grasses that are fast growing, form thick bunches, spread aggressively through their rhizome system and displace native plant communities. Miscanthus is now a frequent sight along roadsides throughout Ontario. To get a sense of how invasive this grass really is, it has been nicknamed “the next Phragmites”. Phragmites, or European Common Reed, is one of the worst invasive plants in Canada, and Miscanthus is able to outcompete this invasive grass species!
Here are some other negative impacts of Miscanthus grasses:
- 👎🏼Displace native plants and reduce biodiversity.
- 👎🏼As they dry out, they become highly flammable and a fire hazard.
- 👎🏼Decompose slowly on the ground, limiting the amount of nutrients returned to the soil.
How it got here:
- Miscanthus grasses were introduced to North America near the end of the 19th century, mainly as an ornamental plant but they were also used as a barrier plant along roadsides and in agricultural fields. They are native to East Asia (Japan, China, Korea) and Southeast Asia.
- There are over 100 cultivars available for landscaping still available for sale in nurseries and garden centres.
Why it’s such a good invader:
- These species are adaptable, and able to tolerate a variety of environmental conditions. They can grow rapidly, forming dense clumps and spreading through their rhizome system as well as seed spread.
How to remove it:
While the most effective way to remove Miscanthus is to target the rhizomes, it can be difficult for a homeowner to eliminate the root system without access to systemic herbicide treatments. Small plants can be removed by digging, and each growing season the seed heads can be removed and disposed to prevent further spread. Frequent mowing throughout the growing season may eventually weaken the rhizome system and kill Miscanthus.
Consider Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Instead
Why native grasses like Little Bluestem get the thumbs up:
There are several native clumping grasses and sedges to consider as an alternative to Miscanthus, that combine visual appeal with ecological benefits. Native grasses and sedges add texture and beauty to your garden, while at the same time providing benefits for pollinators and nesting sites for birds. Many species like Little Bluestem grass are larval host plants for a variety of skippers (a type of butterfly), and they also provide nesting sites and protection for overwintering bumblebee queens. Grasses and sedges can be intermixed with wildflowers in prairie and meadow gardens. They are also great additions to rooftop gardens, rock gardens, border plantings, and can be an alternative to turfgrass.
Little Bluestem is a native, non-invasive alternative to Miscanthus:
- 👍🏼It is a mid-sized ornamental clumping grass that is important to prairie ecosystems, reaching up to a meter in height.
- 👍🏼It has shining, attractive white seed tufts that mature in the fall. Flowers are reddish-brown and bloom in the late summer to fall. This vibrant color remains into early winter.
- 👍🏼The seeds are a valuable winter food source for small birds, and it is a larval host plant for a variety of skipper, butterfly, and moth species.
Where to plant it:
Prairie and meadow gardens.
Growing conditions:
Prefers full sun, adapted to soils ranging from sandy to clay-loam.
Other native ornamental sedge and grass species to consider include:
- Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), sometimes called “Turkey’s Foot” due to its V-shaped purple-red flowering spikes in the summer. The leaf blades turn an attractive bronze in the summer. It is a good drought-tolerant, large grass if you have the space (reaches 2.5 m tall).
- Bottlebrush Grass (Elymus hystrix) is a mid-sized grass with bristly spikelets that resemble a bottlebrush. This grass is a larval host for several types of leaf beetle, borer moths, and butterflies. The bottlebrush spikelets add a splash of beauty to the winter landscape.
- Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is densely clumping, easy to grow and long-lived.
- Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) is a low growing, clumping, grass-like perennial suitable as a groundcover or rain garden addition.
- Yellow Prairie Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) has rich gold-purple sprays of flowers and seeds in the fall. It is tolerant of drought and compaction, and is consumed by wildlife and livestock.
- Ivory Sedge (Carex eburnea) is a great low-maintenance alternative for rock gardens or areas with thin soils.
Read more about these and other native alternatives in the Ontario Invasive Plant Council’s Grow Me Instead Guide.
Where to buy native plants:
The North American Native Plant Society (NANPS) offers a list of commercial growers.
Why Native Plants?
Not all flowers are created equal. Native plants provide habitat and food for a whole ecosystem of wildlife, from butterflies and native bees, to birds and mammals. Non-native plants, which may look the same to the untrained eye, take up space and resources but create a wildlife desert. Some non-native species are also invasive, which means that their introduction or spread negatively impacts native biodiversity, as well as the economy and society, including human health.
The horticultural and nursery trades are one of the primary pathways for invasive species introductions. While many horticultural plants are harmless garden additions, some can escape cultivation into natural areas and negatively impact biological diversity. Miscanthus grasses are still widely available for sale in garden centres and nurseries. You can take a proactive approach by not buying invasive plants and choosing non-invasive alternatives instead.
The Grow Me Instead (GMI) Guide
To help gardeners make informed decisions about the plants they are buying for their gardens, the Ontario Invasive Plant Council (OIPC) developed the Grow Me Instead (GMI) guide. The GMI guide is a practical and easy to use guide that informs gardeners about the invasive tendencies of common garden plants and suggests appropriate non-invasive alternatives. It provides tips for ecologically sound gardening and choosing plant species that will benefit local populations of insects and other wildlife. The Ontario Grow Me Instead guide is available on the Ontario Invasive Plant Council (OIPC) website to download.
Want more? This is the fifth in our series showcasing native plants to choose for your landscaping, rather than invasive species. Read about Michigan Lily, which is a good groundcover alternative to invasive Orange Daylily.
