Introduction:
Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis)
Originially introduced from Asia in the nursery trade, Miscanthus sinensis is one of the most common ornamental plants. Its height and fast growth enable it to eclipse native vegetation growing close to the soil surface. Although it has not caused as much damage as some invasive grasses, its ability to inhabit disturbed areas and its popularity as an ornamental species make it a serious threat to native flora.
Description:
Miscanthus sinensis is a robust perennial plant that can reach up to 3m (10 feet) in height. It is usually found in large clumps. It consists of long arching branches and leaves that spread or droop. The leaves can be up to a metre (3 feet) long and 25mm (1 inch) wide. Each leaf has a silvery-white midrib with sharp tips that are re-curving
. Mature plants have large, showy, feather-like flowers appearing in Sept.-Oct. It has very short, inconspicuous rhizomes. Pinkish-silvery 8-10” plumes remain into the winter. M. sinensis turns a rich golden brown in the winter and the colour persists throughout the season.
“The fan-shaped terminal panicle is 15cms to 60cms (6 to 24 inches) long and can be silvery to pale pink in colour. The branches of the panicle are erect or ascending. These panicles reach full maturity in the fall. The glabrous spikelets are very small, yellow-brown in colour and encircled at the base with white or purple-coloured hairs. The fertile lemma contains an awn that is spirally twisted at its base. The seeds are yellowish brown to slightly reddish, sparsely hairy, and have a twisted tip. They occur from September to January and have membranous husks with a hidden grain.
Occurs in:
Ruderal/disturbed, urban areas.
Habitat description:
Miscanthus sinensis can adapt to several different habitats, but prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil to attain maximum growth potential. Plants
Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis) Distribution in North America shown in green.
can tolerate cold climates, but do not grow well in humid, hot southern climates. Horticulturalists claim that the plant can live between USDA hardiness zones 5-9, able to survive temperatures as low as -26°C (-14.8 F). Once established, M. sinensis can tolerate a variety of poor conditions, including soils of various pH, compacted soils, nutrient poor soils, heat, and drought. The plant doesn’t survive in soil with a high salt content. M. sinensis is intolerant of shade but can be found in sparsley forested areas and small sunlit openings. Common in many natural and disturbed areas, M. sinensis is often found on abandoned home sites, roadsides, forest edges, sides of reservoirs, and in old fields following fires.
General impacts:
Fast growing grasses (M. sinensis) can reduce the photosynthetic capability of competitors by reducing light availability at the soil surface. In Japan, M. sinensis colonized abandoned fields, reducing the regeneration or encroachment of oak seeds by reducing the light availability and daily carbon gain by oak seedlings.
Geographical range
Native range: Russian Federation, China, Japan, Taiwan, Republic of Korea, Philippines, and Indonesia.
Known introduced range: United States, Australia.
Management information:
Physical:Digging out the root system, especially the entire rhizome, is a proven method for removing individual plants. Digging out plants will
Close up of the Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis) Weed.
probably result in resprouts and would need further treatment. Cutting and disking methods may also result in increased dispersal due to rhizome pieces that are cast into uninhabited areas. Looking for flowers in the fall and removing them early to eliminate self-seeding. Removing the seed head also helps curb seed bank deposits and control plant spread. Repeated mowing, as short as possible throughout the summer may kill M. sinensis in as few as 2 seasons. Areas with a larger seed bank will take longer. M. sinensis cannot tolerate repeated mowing during growth season, however, dormant stage cutting of plants may increase growth if cuttings are removed. Grazing has proved to be a successful management tool in Japan, stopping the plant’s growth by allowing cattle, horses, and sheep to graze on M. sinensis in the beginning of June. Burning increases growth, vigor, and seedset of M. sinensis. “Burning should only be done as a management practice when it can be followed by chemical control. Proposed ideas to develope sterile froms of M. sinensis could be a great solution to the green industry and for commercial selling of plants.
Chemical/Mechanical: Late winter/early spring: remove previous year’s growth by cutting or burning entire plant to ground. This enables higher chemical control efficiency. When growth is 12” tall, spray with glyphosate or imazapyr.. Allow the plant to die and cut dead foliage back to ground. If previous year’s growth still exists, wait until plant reaches 12-24” prior to spraying. Repeat spraying if necessary in late summer or fall when regrowth is 12” tall. An abundant amount of green foliage is necessary for effective chemical control. Arsenal AC as a one percent solution for control of M. sinensis, or a combination of glyphosate and arsenal AC. In the fall, a 2% solution of Roundup or 1% solution of fusilade should be effective against M. sinensis. In the spring, apply a 4% solution of Roundup or 2% solution of fusilade.
Sourced From:
