Decorative cereals now becoming increasingly popular in gardening. Growing up, they form a beautiful curtain, it is something like a bush. Attractive because it is a perennial frost-resistant plant. One of the representatives of this family Chinese miscanthus, which is represented by various attractive varieties. Let's talk further about planting and caring for this culture.
Botanical description
The plant in its natural habitat inhabits the entire length of the Far Eastern regions of Asia, Japan, Korea, and Russia. It grows in open glades, mountain slopes until the beginning of the lower mountain range. Under natural conditions, it breeds well. This is a large grass bush that can reach over 3 meters in height. The average height of the culture is from a meter to two and a half. The stems are straight, at the bottom of them at the root have leathery leaves in the form of scales. The leaves, which grow right on the shoots, are very long, in the middle there is a rib, about a centimeter wide, rather rigid, with a bend. Due to the variety of varieties there are different colors.
Panicle inflorescences, as a rule, friable, from 10 to 30 cm long, consist of one-flowered spikelets on legs, a little less than a centimeter in length. Inflorescences range from burgundy to white, depending on the variety.
The plant has a very powerful root system, which grows heavily. Miscanthus Chinese is also called a fan or Chinese reed, from Greek the name translates as "flower on a leg", the botanical name - Miscanthus sinensis. 
Popular varieties
The variety of varieties of Chinese miscanthus, which today more than a hundred, make it popular to use for landscaping plots. Depending on the variety and time of year, the leaves and inflorescences are presented in a wide range of colors. If the site has several varieties of miscanthus, it looks very impressive. Next, we consider the photos and descriptions of some of the most popular among gardeners.
Late variety Morning Light (Morning Light), which blooms from August to late October. Hard leaves fall to the bottom and resemble a fountain. In spring and summer they are green, and in autumn they can be from bright yellow to burgundy. The inflorescences bloom at the end of summer and at first red-magenta, and closer to the autumn they become soft brown. Unpretentious to the soil, prefers fresh without sand and clay. It is frost-resistant, can grow in the fifth zone. 
Sort Blondo high enough. A grass bush can be more than two meters high. It blooms almost white flowers from early summer to late autumn. Leaves narrow, tough, dark green. This variety of Chinese miscanthus is quite suitable for cultivation in the Moscow region, as it carries frosts down to -34 ° C and belongs to the fourth zone. 
Miscanthus chinese Flamingo belongs to the middle-class varieties and rarely grows to 1.8 meters in height. Its name was due to the bright pink flowers that bloom in early summer. The leaves are hard, dark green in color, which preserve it until late autumn. The variety is popular with gardeners because of its color range, relative simplicity and good frost resistance. It belongs to the fourth zone and carries frosts down to -28 ° C. 
Graziella (Graziella) refers to varieties, medium height and can grow up to one and a half meters and up to one meter in width. Popular with the fact that in the fall the leaves and stems become the color of copper with a touch of orange. Begins to bloom in July and ends in August; they do not like shade; they bloom only in open places where there is a lot of sun. This species loves soils with high humidity, where it thrives well. In the dry summer it is necessary to water. Maintains frosts to -28 ° C. 
Chinese fan Gracillimus reaches a height of two meters, therefore, refers to the high grades. It blooms from late June to late August with copper-colored panicles. Long weeping leaves, up to 1.5 cm wide, in the summer of saturated green color, can get red, brown and yellow tones in autumn. Grows well in moist soils without clay, in sunny areas, afraid of the winds. Needs shelter for the winter, transferring frosts to -28C °. 
Very unusual variety Strictus (Strictus). By its appearance, it is somewhat reminiscent of a porcupine. All due to the fact that on hard leaves scattered across the white stripes. They are bright green, hard, up to a centimeter wide and stand straight. In autumn, they are colored from yellow to burgundy. Bronze flowers with red, up to 0.7 cm long, bloom in October and continue to bloom until late autumn. The plant blooms well in the sun, maximum in partial shade, does not like soils that contain sand and clay. It can withstand temperatures down to -28 ° C, only young plants need to be sheltered for the winter. 
Choosing a site for growing
As with the cultivation of other ornamental plants, there are subtleties and recommendations for proper planting and caring for Chinese miscanthus. They begin with a choice of landing site.
Lighting and location
Most of these plants do not like shade at all, preferring open sunny areas. Without the sun, they grow, but do not bloom. There are some varieties that tolerate penumbra, you need to pay attention to this when choosing planting material. There should be a lot of space, as it is a perennial grass that grows well. Many varieties are afraid of the winds, so you need to choose a place protected from them. It is worth paying attention to the combination of miscanthus with other plants. All of them are bright representatives of cereals, attract attention with their appearance, so they will not look very good together. Advise them to sit "spots" in different parts of the site.
Soil for miscanthus
Culture is enough unpretentious to the soil. Of course, if possible, the soil should be fertile. Do not recommend planting plants in the ground, which contains a lot of clay and sand. The main condition for most varieties is that the soil should "hold" moisture well.The soil can be overmoistened, but can not be dry. Therefore, it is loosened and often watered, especially in the first few years of plant life.
Landing naughty "child"
When planting miscanthus in open ground, it is important to know about some points directly planting and caring for the plant.
Carefully choose planting material
The plant is planted by division. That is, a large bush is divided into seedlings and transplanted. Or separate and transplant part. Saplings can be bought in nurseries, but you still need to pay attention to their appearance. For planting you need to choose an adult, well-developed seedling. Plants are transplanted and planted only in spring or early summer, its vegetation occurs when the air temperature approaches 25 ° C, it must have time to take root and subsequently endure the winter well. Mikantusa multiply and seeds, but as a rule, gardeners rarely use this method. 
Landing pattern
The plant is planted in a hole, which, according to the advice of experienced gardeners, should be three times the root system of the plant. Usually it is 20 centimeters wide and up to 30 deep.You can add to the soil a little organic fertilizer, such as compost, after mixing it with the ground. Roots should not be in contact with fertilizer. You can soak the seedling root system in a solution of hydrogen peroxide at the rate of a tablespoon per liter of water for some time. This will strengthen it and saturate it with oxygen. Sapling gently sprinkled with earth, paying attention to their complete shelter, it should be somewhere 3-5 cm. After planting sapling Be sure to water abundantly.
Plant care
Like any garden "pet", miscanthus requires a certain care, but in fact it is not heavy and does not require much time. 
Watering
Culture loves wet soil and does not tolerate drought, and therefore needs watering. Particularly demanding to her seedlings and young plants. It is imperative to monitor the dryness of the soil and water when dry. In this case, it is better to pour than not to pour. Watering is necessary at sunset, when the sun does not overheat the soil. If watered in the hot sun, the water will heat the soil, and with it the water, and this can harm the plant.
Fertilizer
As a rule, an adult plant does not need additional fertilizers. In order to pamper him, you can dilute some organic matter such as manure in water and pour. Another thing - sapling and young grass bushes. After planting, after a while, it is necessary to fertilize the soil with nitrogen fertilizers, and a little later with potash-phosphate fertilizers. You need to fertilize the solution, it is absorbed faster. The main thing is to know the measure, because the plant lies on the ground due to an excess of nitrogen.
Weeding and soil care
To loosen the ground is recommended for young plants and seedlings during their adaptation. We must also remove the weeds that interfere with the normal development. Adult plants too it is necessary to loosen the soil, usually to avoid stagnant water. 
Wintering miscanthus
The varieties that are grown in our climate have good winter hardiness, but young plants are recommended for winter shelter. To do this, use different methods. For example, they put a film, leaving openings for ventilation, and then cover with boards or lapnik.You can simply cover with sphagnum, after taking care that it is not carried away by the wind. To do this, you can use the same boards or branches. They note that adult plants of Chinese miscanthus do not need shelter and, as a rule, tolerate frost well.
Use in landscape design
If the miscanthus is planted separately, they will always attract attention with their height and colors of panicles and leaves at different times of the year.
They are well decorated ponds, but they need to plant not at the water.
Popular is the creation of plants hedges and borders, due to the high density of these grass bushes.
They are also used as a back green background for flowering plants.
The unusual appearance of high flowering grass contributes to the increasing use of Chinese miscanthus for landscaping. The plant is quite unpretentious, so with proper care it pleases the eye with its beauty for many years.The Chinese species has many varieties, so everyone will find it suitable for themselves.
