Silver Feather Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder' (marketed in English as 'Silver Feather')
Nursery-Grown Silver Feather Grass, Ready to Plant
This size is not in the online store yet. Ask about availability and we will reply with current stock.
- Soars to 6-8 feet with silvery plumes August through fall
- Deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and adaptable to most soils
- Fast growth (1-3 feet per year) with minimal maintenance needs
About this plant
Silver Feather is a warm-season ornamental grass prized for its towering silvery-pink plumes that emerge in late summer and persist into fall. At peak bloom, it reaches 6 to 8 feet tall, making it ideal as a specimen plant, seasonal privacy screen, or striking backdrop for perennial borders and mass plantings. The plumes dry beautifully for cut arrangements. The parent species, Miscanthus sinensis, self-seeds into wild areas and is listed as invasive in parts of the eastern and mid-Atlantic US, so check local rules before planting.
You'll receive a nursery-grown quart plant, started and ready to install in your landscape. Plant after arrival in a location with full sun and well-drained soil. Water regularly through the first season to establish a strong root system. Silver Feather grows quickly once established, gaining 1 to 3 feet per season, but year-one growth remains modest as the clump develops.
Put Silver Feather Grass to work
Silver Feather reaches 6 to 8 feet in bloom, so give it room.
Lone specimen
Give one clump full sun and space, and plumes rise 2 to 4 feet above the foliage.
Summer screen
Plant clumps 3 to 4 feet apart along a boundary for a seasonal privacy screen.
Bed backdrop
Mass it behind aster, sedum and black-eyed Susan to frame shorter plants.
Dried stems
Cut plumes for dried arrangements, and leave the rest standing for winter.
Not ideal for: It is too big for small yards, and a pot only works for a season.
Good to know: The parent species has become invasive across parts of the eastern and mid-Atlantic US, so verify local rules.
Silver Feather Grass at a glance
| Botanical name | Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder' (marketed in English as 'Silver Feather') |
|---|---|
| Plant type | warm-season ornamental grass (clump-forming herbaceous perennial) |
| USDA zones | 5-9 |
| Mature height | 6-8 ft including flower plumes (foliage clump typically 3-4 ft, plumes rise 2-4 ft above); varies with climate and soil fertility |
| Mature width | 3-4 ft, occasionally to 5 ft at full spread |
| Sun | full sun for best flowering and upright habit; tolerates light/part shade but may flop and bloom less |
| Water | average to medium, consistent moisture especially first year; drought tolerant once established |
| Bloom time | late summer into fall, roughly August through October depending on region |
| Bloom color | silvery-pink to coppery plumes that mature to silvery-white |
| Growth rate | fast once established, gaining roughly 1-3 ft of height per growing season; slower and clump-building in year one after planting |
| Deer resistance | good to high resistance |
| Best planting time | spring, after last frost, to allow a full season of root establishment |
Container sizes explained
| Quart / QT | A 4 inch pot, roughly one quart of soil. A young starter plant, the most economical way to buy several. |
|---|
Questions before you buy
What size plant should I choose?
We offer Silver Feather as a quart plant, a nursery-started specimen ready to install in your landscape.
When should I plant after it arrives?
Plant after arrival. Silver Feather establishes best when planted in spring, after the last frost, allowing a full growing season for root development before winter dormancy.
How large does Silver Feather grow?
The foliage clump reaches 3 to 4 feet wide, with plumes rising another 2 to 4 feet above, for a total height of 6 to 8 feet. Size varies with climate and soil fertility.
How much sun does Silver Feather need?
It performs best in full sun, which ensures upright growth and abundant, vibrant blooms. It tolerates part shade but may become floppy and produce fewer flowers.
What hardiness zones is this suitable for?
Silver Feather is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, making it suitable for most of the continental United States. Check your zone on the USDA hardiness map.
What care does Silver Feather need in its first year?
Water consistently through the first season to establish deep roots. Once established, it requires minimal maintenance.
Growing guides for Silver Feather Grass
Silver Feather Grass Buying Guide: What Size to Choose
Explains quart through #3 pots so you pick a size that fits
Is Silver Feather Grass Patented? Dividing and Sharing Rules
Because it is an old German cultivar, you may divide and share it freely
How to Plant Silver Feather Grass: Site, Timing and Tips
Spring planting with site, spacing, and timing for Silberfeder
Silver Feather Grass Care: The Complete Growing Guide
Troubleshooting alongside watering and pruning for this tall Miscanthus
How Big Does Silver Feather Grass Get? Size and Growth Rate
Matures at 6 to 8 feet tall, with width and growth rate covered
Silver Feather Grass Hardiness Zones: Where Will It Grow?
Regional planting notes for Silberfeder across zones 5 to 9
15 Landscape Ideas for Silver Feather Grass in Your Yard
Fifteen ways to use it as a specimen, privacy screen, border, or companion planting
Silver Feather Grass Sun Requirements: Full Sun or Shade?
Explains how much sun it needs and how to judge your site