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.
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.
Silver Feather Grass at a glance
| Botanical name | Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder' (marketed in English as 'Silver Feather') |
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| 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. |
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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. This size establishes reliably and grows vigorously once settled.
When should I plant after it arrives?
Plant after arrival. Silver Feather establishes best when planted in spring or early summer, 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. Apply mulch, keep the area weeded, and avoid fertilizing until year two. Once established, it requires minimal maintenance.