Striped Eulalia Grass
- Striped eulalia grass (Miscanthus sinensis "Variegatus") is also commonly referred to as variegated silver grass or striped Japanese eulalia grass. All Miscanthus grass varieties have similar plumes that are smaller in size than those of pampas grass. The grass also performs well in containers and on pond banks.
- Striped eulalia grass gets its name from the distinct white bands on its leaf margins that give the foliage a variegated look. The clump forming grass has a mature height of 5 to 7 feet. The pink flowers bloom in the form of plumes during late summer and fall. The plumes are anywhere from 8 to 10 inches long and they stay on the plant well into winter. They're often used in dry floral arrangements.
- The grass develops a shrub-like mature form with a spread of 5 to 10 feet. The weeping, drooping foliage is fine textured and grows at a fast pace. Striped eulalia assumes yellow and bronze fall colors. The lance-shaped plant foliage has serrated edges with each blade measuring over 3 feet in length. The ornamental grass does not produce any fruit and has multiple, clumping stems.
- Plant striped eulalia grass in areas of full sun. The drought-tolerant grass adapts well to a variety of well-drained soil types including acidic, loam, clay or sand. Striped eulalia grass is moderately tolerant of wet soils but is intolerant of salt. The aggressive growth habit gives the grass an invasive potential. The warm season grass is best transplanted during spring and is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. The foliage rust disorder sometimes occurs during wet weather. The disorder usually disappears as soon as the weather gets drier. Striped eulalia grass is rarely bothered by pests.
