Gracillimus Maiden Grass

Light Needs

Full Sun

(6+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

5-7 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 8

A maiden because of the narrow, arching leaves that add grace to a garden, Gracillimus Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis Gracillimus) is a versatile perennial. Hardy in zones 5 through 8, this perennial ornamental grass provides texture, movement, and color to the landscape year-round. Even once the green of its blades fades, it produces copper-colored “flowers,” which are curled seed heads, in fall. In winter, the foliage turns to a golden-bronze after frost, providing winter interest.

At a mature height of 5 to 7 feet and a spread of 2 to 3 feet, this Maiden Hair grass works well as a “dynamic” screen or border. It’s dynamic because its long, slender blades will sway in the breeze, but it clumps densely enough in the middle that a single plant can hide eyesores like coolers. It is a great plant to use as a mass planting for a pretty meadow effect in your backyard or along a sidewalk. Use it to complement nearly any style of garden, from Asian to contemporary.

Gracillimus Maiden Grass Care

Choose a sunny spot for your miscanthus, not only because the plant loves it, but because you will love seeing sun hit the pretty foliage. Be sure to consider its full size when planting so that it can have a little breathing and swaying room against a wall, fence, or other plants.

It can grow fine in poor soils with average pH levels and needs very little care once in the ground. Do not overfertilize the grass, but give it one feeding in late winter or early spring before its growth starts with a mild organic fertilizer.

Water your Gracillimus Maiden Hair Grass well after planting and for its first few weeks or months in the ground to help it establish roots. This works best with deep watering every few days or so instead of watering every day. After that, be sure to cut back on watering so that the soil beneath the grass is not soggy. Once established, this is a drought-tolerant grass.

Leave its fading foliage and flower heads in fall and only cut it back if desired in early spring. Use some of the blades or a rope to tie the foliage together and trim it off a few inches above the ground.

Gracillimus Maiden Grass Spacing

Space Maiden Hair grass for a border or mass planting about 2.5 to 3 feet apart to give them room to grow.

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