Not only flowering plants and perennials can decorate a garden, more and more grasses are also finding their way there. A particularly attractive eye-catcher is the giant Chinese reed (bot. Miscanthus x giganteus), also known as elephant grass. However, it does not form germinable seeds.
Giant Chinese reed should be as sunny as possible
location and soil
Giant Chinese reed also thrives in semi-shade, but prefers a sunny location. There is even a chance that your elephant grass will bloom in the fall. Overall, the plant becomes more vital and vigorous in a bright location.
The soil should be loose and humus-rich, you can loosen compacted soil with some sand and possibly well-rotted compost. Avoid waterlogging, if necessary a drainage layer of coarse gravel in the planting hole will help.
When is the best planting time?
Although giant Chinese reed is hardy, it should have enough time to grow before the first frost. Planting is therefore ideal in the spring, but in principle it is possible throughout the summer.
What should I consider when planting?
The easy-care giant Chinese reed does not bear its name for nothing, it can really grow very large. Under optimal conditions, you should plan for a maximum size of around three to four meters in height and up to two meters in width. Give your elephant grass a sufficiently large space so that it can show itself to its best advantage.
Elephant grass is ideal as a solitary plant, planted in a group but also as a privacy screen. But even then, the individual plants need a distance of about one meter to the neighboring plant. Alternatively, you can also plant your giant Chinese reed in a bucket.
The essentials in brief:
- maximum height: approx. 3 to 4 m
- maximum width: approx. 1.5 to 2 m
- hardy
- Flowering time: September or October, but only when there is enough sun
- flowers: red, like panicles
- ideal location: sunny to semi-shady
- ideal soil: humic, nutritious, sandy to loamy
tips
If your garden is small or there is just enough space for elephant grass, you can also plant another variety of Chinese reed.