Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’
Overview
Uses: Specimen plantings, vertical accents, seasonal screening, and moist spots near ponds.
Benefits: A stiffly upright maiden grass with green blades banded in horizontal gold stripes, like porcupine quills. Its narrow, columnar habit stands up well without flopping, and coppery plumes open in fall.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Hardy Perennial
Growth Habit: Upright, Columnar — stiff and narrow.
Bloom Color: Coppery-Pink plumes aging to Tan
Foliage Color: Green with horizontal Gold bands
Mature Height: 6–8 feet
Mature Width: 3–4 feet
Bloom Season: Fall
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
A tall, banded grass that stands straight up like a bundle of porcupine quills.
Porcupine grass gets its name from its foliage. Each green blade is marked with horizontal gold bands spaced along its length, and because the blades grow stiffly upward rather than arching, the clump bristles with stripes from every angle. The banding develops as the weather warms and is strongest from midsummer on.
By late summer the clump reaches six to eight feet tall while staying only three to four feet wide. In fall, coppery-pink plumes open above the foliage and age to tan, and both plumes and leaves stand through much of the winter.
That narrow, vertical form makes it one of the best grasses for tight spaces that need height: between a driveway and a property line, at the corner of a house, beside a pond, or as an exclamation point in a large border. A row of clumps makes a tall, see-through seasonal screen.
Care
Strictus Porcupine Grass Care
Plant in full sun. Strong light brings out the gold banding and keeps the clump stiff and upright; in shade the bands fade and the blades grow looser.
Porcupine grass grows in most average soils, including clay, and handles moist ground well, which makes it a good fit for pond edges and low spots that drain slowly. Very rich soil produces softer growth.
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.
Size
What Size is the Strictus Porcupine Grass for Sale Online?
Our Strictus Porcupine 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 Strictus Porcupine Grass Grow?
Expect about 6 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity, in a stiff, upright clump. Space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart for a seasonal screen.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is most often called porcupine grass, and is also sold as porcupine maiden grass.
What is the difference between porcupine grass and zebra grass?
Both have green blades with horizontal gold bands. Zebra grass has a looser, arching habit that spreads wide and can flop late in the season, while porcupine grass grows stiffly upright in a narrower clump. Choose porcupine grass where you need height in limited width. For more grasses, see our Ornamental Grasses.
Why don’t the gold bands show yet?
New spring blades often come up plain green. The bands develop as the weather warms and usually show strongest from midsummer on. Full sun brings out the most banding.
Do deer eat porcupine grass?
Deer rarely bother maiden grasses, 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.
