Miscanthus sinensis ‘Cute One’

Dwarf Maiden Grass Poaceae

Possibly the smallest Miscanthus of them all — and, despite the rather alarming cultivar name, an undeniably useful little grass. ‘Cute One’ forms a remarkably compact, rounded mound of very narrow green leaves, delicately veined in white so that the foliage shimmers in sunlight. From late summer, numerous slender flower stems carry copper-bronze plumes, gradually fading to silvery tones as autumn advances. At around 30–40 cm tall, this is a Miscanthus for the front of the border rather than the back row, and it makes an excellent container plant. It is clump-forming and well behaved, with no ambition to colonise the garden, and is surprisingly adaptable, tolerating poorer soils and some drought once established. Give it sun and reasonably well-drained soil for the best combination of compact growth and flowering. A charming little grass — although we might politely agree that its name is considerably less attractive than the plant.

Cultivar origin: Horticultural selection; original breeder/raiser undocumented.
Flowering: August–October
Hardiness: H5, approximately −15 to −10°C
Height: 30–40 cm
Spread: 30–40 cm