Chinese Silver-grass

Miscanthus sinensis

Found in roadsides, powerline rights-of-way, other disturbed habitats, increasingly moving into a wide variety of natural habitats, including those with prescribed fire. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

-85

Severe harm

Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: 4–12 feet
Spread: 4–6 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Dry to moist

See native alternatives

Miscanthus sinensis — flower photograph — (c) Jacy Chen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Virginia.

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Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow, pink, purple or red.
Published recommendation: Tennessee Invasive Plant Council (TN-IPC)
Yellow Indiangrass
Sorghastrum nutans
Sun: Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow or orange.
Published recommendation: Tennessee Invasive Plant Council (TN-IPC)
Sugarcane Plumegrass
Erianthus giganteus
Sun: Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Brown/copper, yellow, gray/silver, pink or red.
Published recommendation: Tennessee Invasive Plant Council (TN-IPC)

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: April to November
Fruiting season: Summer to fall

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Recorded in 62 Virginia counties.

Habitats

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground.

Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there. All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

1CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Miscanthus

Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Poaceae
Hardiness: Zones 5a–9b
Flower color: Gray/silver, pink, red or white
Growth rate: Moderate
Growth habit: Grows in clumps
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Summer
Fruit ends: Fall

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “April to November” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Gray/silver, pink, red or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Grows in clumps” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 5a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “4–12 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry; Occasionally wet; Very dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “4–6 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Chinese Silver grass; Silver Grass

Conservation status

Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source