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Maiden Grass

Miscanthus sinensis

Other Common Names

Chinese Silvergrass

Plant Category

Grass and Sedge, Perennial

Invasive Description

Native to Asia, Maiden Grass is a highly variable and robust perennial grass. Maiden Grass can grow to 5 to 10 feet in height. It is a densely bunched grass with slender, arching leaves up to 18 inches long. The fan-shaped terminal panicles are 6 to 24 inches long and can be silvery to pale pink in color. The grass reproduces through rhizomes and wind-blown seeds. Widely planted as ornamental because of attractive seed heads. It is shade tolerant.

Ecological Threat

Maiden Grass was introduced in the late 1800s. It invades roadsides, forest edges, old fields, and other disturbed areas displacing native plants.  It is highly flammable and increases fire risks of invaded areas.

How to Eradicate

For information on how to eradicate this invasive, view our statement on herbicide use and preferred alternatives for invasive plants.

Native Alternatives

You can replace this invasive plant with native alternatives. Here are some plants that make superior replacements.

Match your location on the Texas map to the color squares on the replacement plants below to find suitable replacements for your ecoregion.

Click for more details about the ecoregions
Additional Replacement Options: Sporobolus wrightii