Meet Miscanthus!

by Cile Downs

Miscanthus sinensis is not exactly new in town. Her graceful plumes, tawny winter color and ease of cultivation have made her popular far and wide, and she’s been sold at nurseries for some time. However, a realization is dawning that “Chinese silver grass” as she is also known, is a merciless take-over artist which can invade a field of native grasses or crops in short order Miscanthus sinensis and be very difficult to eradicate thereafter.

I have just learned that Miscanthus can also move into high marsh, a dreadful thought for Accabonac protectors!

Bruce Horwith, Director of Preserves and Natural Resource Analyst at the Long Island Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, thinks we need legislation that will declare Miscanthus a dangerous invasive and ban its sale. “Using a scientific rating system developed by TNC and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden,” he says, “Miscanthus emerged with a very high invasiveness ranking. This and other findings on non-native invasive plants will inform future revisions of current invasive species legislation and “Do Not Sell” lists in Nassau & Suffolk counties.”

If you own a Miscanthus plant, the recommended course of action is to dig it out, root and all. If this operation must be delayed, at least lop off the seed heads. Its seeds fly around on the wind and plant progeny at amazing distances. You’ll do any neighbor who has one (or several) a favor by passing on this advice.