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Miscanthus silberspinne

WiltshireGardenerWiltshireGardener Posts: 7
in Problem solving
I planted three of these nearly 18 months ago and they haven't flowered yet. I've seen that a possible reason could be too much nitrogen, but this isn't the case. They're in a good position and healthy, but no sign of flowers. The nursery I bought them from hasn't been any help - does anyone have any ideas? 

Posts

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Looks like you need to be more patient, apparently time to maturity (and flowering) is 2 to 5 years.
  • WiltshireGardenerWiltshireGardener Posts: 7
    Thanks, I didn't know that.  I planted panicum rehbraun at the same time and they've flowered both years, I've been so disappointed with the silberspinne.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @WiltshireGardener I grew M Morning Light some years ago, it never managed more than a few flowers. Looking back it was only a small plant and it was slow growing.

    Today I grow M Flamingo and M kleine fontane both are flowering really well. With all grasses you need a generous chunk to get started! Small plants are slow to flower. Also the full heat of the sun is necessary for good flowering.

    I think your grass is variegated as is M Morning Light don't know if that affects flowering?  Some variegated Iris are shy to flower but perhaps nothing to do with it?


    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited September 2022
    My Miscanthus 'Malepartus' took 2 or 3 of years to flower well. On the other hand, a Miscanthus 'Adagio' from Lidl has flowers all over in its first year, although it is still a very small plant! Suspect the newer varieties are better performers.

    Miscanthus nepalensis flowers spectacularly from a young age, vigorous but is shorter lived than M. sinensis varieties.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    There was a wonderful lady on GW yesterday I believe she lived in Devon. She mentioned that M Morning Light was late flowering. I wonder if the length of the growing season affects flowering. Perhaps further north it isn't long enough.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    M. Morning light does not flower at all in northern climes.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • WiltshireGardenerWiltshireGardener Posts: 7
    Thanks everyone, but I now have the answer.  I'd sent a photo to the nursery where I bought it and I've finally heard back from them.  It seems they made a mistake and sent me the wrong variety - a non-flowering grass!
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited October 2022
    I hope they are going to put things right for you. Any new grasses need to go in the ground very soon. Just a thought how do they propagate them?
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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