Common Name: 'Adagio' Maiden Grass
Latin Name: Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'
Brand: None
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Mature Height: 3–4 ft (5 ft in bloom)
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Mature Width: 3–4 ft
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Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
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Cold Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5–9
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Habit: Upright, fountain-like, clump-forming
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Foliage: Silver-gray, narrow blades; golden in fall, tan in winter
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Flower: Pink plumes aging to creamy white from August to February
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Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0–7.0)
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Water Needs: Medium (tolerates dry soil once established)
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Special Features:
- Colorful foliage
- Long bloom season
- Drought tolerant
- Deer & rabbit resistant
- Erosion control
- Bird-friendly seedheads
- Winter interest
- Tolerant of air pollution, dry soil, and black walnut proximity
Description:
‘Adagio’ is a compact cultivar of Chinese silver grass known for its finely textured silver-gray foliage and graceful pink-to-white flowering plumes. Unlike taller Miscanthus varieties, ‘Adagio’ maintains a tidy, rounded form at 3–4 feet tall (up to 5 feet in bloom), making it a favorite for smaller landscapes and container use. This clump-forming, warm-season ornamental grass delivers outstanding multi-season interest, with golden-yellow fall foliage and airy flower heads that persist into winter. Native to East Asia, it has naturalized in much of the Eastern and Central U.S., where it is prized for texture, movement, and winter silhouette.
Care Tips:
Plant in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It performs best in full sun with moist, fertile soil but is adaptable to a range of conditions, including clay, drought, and dry slopes. Cut back foliage to the ground in late winter before new growth emerges. Mulching can help control reseeding. Divide clumps every few years to rejuvenate.
Landscape Uses:
Accent plant, border, mass planting, cottage garden, naturalized area, meadow garden, erosion control, container plant, wildlife garden, pond margin, or winter interest feature
