Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Zebra’
Overview
Uses: Mixed borders, specimen plantings, outdoor containers, and mass plantings.
Benefits: A compact zebra grass with green blades banded in gold, sized for smaller gardens and containers. Reddish-purple plumes appear in late summer and age to silver, holding into winter.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Hardy Perennial
Growth Habit: Upright, Arching — compact clump.
Bloom Color: Reddish-Purple plumes aging to Silvery Tan
Foliage Color: Green with horizontal Gold bands
Mature Height: 3–4 feet
Mature Width: 3–4 feet
Bloom Season: Late summer into fall
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
All the bold striping of zebra grass, in a size that fits a small garden.
Classic zebra grass is a striking plant, but it can easily reach six feet or more and take over a small bed. Little Zebra keeps the same eye-catching look at about three to four feet tall and wide. Its green blades are marked with horizontal gold bands that become more pronounced as summer heats up, so the clump looks a little brighter each week through the season.
In late summer, reddish-purple plumes rise just above the foliage, then slowly fade to silvery tan. Plumes and leaves stand through much of the winter, adding height and texture to a dormant garden.
Its compact size opens up places a full-size zebra grass will not fit: the middle of a mixed border, a small front-yard bed, a row along a walkway, or a large patio container. It pairs well with coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and other sun-loving perennials.
Care
Little Zebra Maiden Grass Care
Plant in full sun. Strong light brings out the gold banding and keeps the clump upright; in shade the bands fade and the blades grow looser.
Maiden grass grows in most average, well-drained soils, including clay, and tolerates moist ground better than many ornamental grasses. Very rich soil produces soft growth that is more likely to lean.
Water deeply once a week through the first growing season while roots establish. Established clumps handle dry spells well, though they look best with water during long droughts.
Fertilizer is rarely needed. In poor soil, a light application of a slow release fertilizer in spring is enough.
Leave the foliage standing through winter. In late winter or early spring, before new shoots appear, cut the clump back to four to six inches. Divide in spring if the center thins after several years. In some regions maiden grass can seed into nearby areas, so remove the plumes before they shed in late fall if self-sown seedlings are a concern.
Growing in Containers
Its compact size suits a large patio container, where the banded blades make a strong vertical accent. Use a pot with open drainage and a quality potting mix. Container plants dry out faster than plants in the ground, so check moisture often in warm weather, and feed lightly each spring, since frequent watering washes nutrients out of the mix. Roots in containers experience greater cold exposure than roots in the ground. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Little Zebra Maiden Grass for Sale Online?
Our Little Zebra Maiden Grass ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or cut back in the off-season, so they may arrive without green foliage. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Little Zebra Maiden Grass Grow?
Expect about 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity, in an upright, arching clump. Space plants about 3 feet apart for a mass planting or a row along a walk.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is most often called dwarf zebra grass, and is also sold as compact zebra grass or simply maiden grass.
Why don’t the gold bands show yet?
New spring blades often come up plain green. The horizontal bands develop as the weather warms and usually show strongest from midsummer on. Full sun brings out the most banding.
How is it different from standard zebra grass?
Standard zebra grass commonly grows six feet or taller with a wide, arching spread. Little Zebra has the same banded foliage at roughly half that height, so it fits smaller beds and containers. For more striped and compact grasses, see our Ornamental Grasses.
Do deer eat maiden grass?
Deer rarely bother maiden grass, and the mature blades are tough and coarse to browse. No plant is completely deer-proof, but it is a dependable choice for sunny sites with deer pressure. See more Deer-Resistant Perennials and Grasses.
