Miscanthus 'Little Kitten'
- In stock, ready for delivery
HEADS UP. THIS ONE CAN SELF-SEED.
Maiden grass is on Ontario's invasive plant list because its seed can blow into natural areas. In the garden it stays a tidy clump. If you live near woodland, meadow or water, cut the plumes off in fall before they drop seed.
Miscanthus 'Little Kitten': All the Maiden Grass Charm, Pint-Sized
'Little Kitten' is a maiden grass that curled up into a tiny mound and refused to get any bigger. Fine, soft blades with reddish plumes that fade to silver. ALL OF THE CUTE, NONE OF THE LITTER BOX.
Plant Characteristics:
- Botanical Name: Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Kitten'
- Common Name: Maiden Grass
- Height: 60â90 cm (2â3 ft) in flower
- Spread: 45â60 cm (1.5â2 ft)
- Flowers: Small reddish plumes held just above the foliage, maturing to silvery white
- Bloom Time: Late summer to fall (August to October), with seedheads lasting into winter
- Foliage: Very fine, narrow green blades in a compact mound, turning gold in fall
- Features: Suited to containers
Where to Plant: Use it where a full-sized maiden grass would swallow the space: small front yards, the front of a border, rock gardens, along a path, or in containers on a sunny deck. Planted in a row, it makes a soft, low edge.
Companion Plants: Use compact 'Little Kitten' in a sunny bed with white daisies, red sneezeweed and tall yellow flowers. Leucanthemum 'Sugar Bowl' edges the front with white daisies at 20 to 25 cm from May to August. Helenium 'Mariachi Salsa' adds red and orange daisies at 45 to 50 cm from July to September. Solidago rigida brings flat-topped yellow goldenrod at 90 to 150 cm from August to October. Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' rises at the back to 150 to 210 cm with pale lemon daisies.
Plant Care: Plant it in full sun in average to evenly moist, well-drained soil. It won't tolerate standing water, especially in winter. Water regularly through the first season. Plants in containers dry out faster and need more frequent watering. Leave the foliage and plumes up for winter. Cut back to about 5â10 cm (2â4 in) in early spring, before new growth begins, taking care not to damage the crown. Divide in spring when the clump gets crowded.
History: Miscanthus sinensis is native to eastern Asia, including China, Korea and Japan. 'Little Kitten' is one of its dwarf forms, bred for gardens with less room to spare.
Final Thoughts: Perfect for a balcony pot or the front of a sunny border, and the deer leave it alone. IT WILL NOT KNOCK YOUR STUFF OFF THE TABLE.