Miscanthus Mystal™ 'Fire Dragon'
- In stock, ready to ship
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 Mystal™ 'Fire Dragon': Green All Summer, Red-Hot by Fall
'Fire Dragon' spends summer as a mild-mannered green grass, then fall hits and it starts breathing fire. The blades turn blazing orange-red under silky silver plumes. DRAGONS DON'T DO SUBTLE.
Plant Characteristics:
- Botanical Name: Miscanthus sinensis 'Fire Dragon'
- Common Name: Maiden Grass
- Series: Mystal™ Miscanthus collection, from PlantHaven
- Height: 180–210 cm (6–7 ft) in bloom
- Spread: 90–120 cm (3–4 ft)
- Flowers: Silky, silvery-white plumes held above the foliage, lasting into winter if left standing
- Bloom Time: Late summer to fall (August to October)
- Foliage: Green, upright to arching blades that turn orange-red from September, peaking in early October
- Features: Outstanding fall colour, winter interest
- Plant Patent: USPP 30,374
Where to Plant: Its height and upright habit make it a strong vertical accent, a back-of-border anchor or a seasonal screen along a property line or patio. Plant it where low autumn sun can shine through the red blades, and give it an open spot for the best colour.
Companion Plants: Sanguisorba obtusa carries fluffy pink flowers at 100 to 150 cm from June to August, holding its own beside this tall grass. Tradescantia 'Innocence' adds white flowers and grassy leaves at 50 to 60 cm from June to September. Aconitum 'Album' brings white spires at 90 to 120 cm in July and August. Plant them together in full sun or part sun for a layered late-summer border.
Plant Care: Plant it in full sun in average, moist but well-drained soil. It handles clay if the soil doesn't stay waterlogged. Water deeply and regularly through its first season. Once established, it handles moderate dry spells. Leave the foliage and plumes up all winter for structure and snow-catching. In early spring, before new growth appears, cut the whole clump back to about 8–15 cm (3–6 in). Divide in spring if the centre begins to die out.
History: 'Fire Dragon' was found by Klaus Menzel in his garden in Wöllstein, Germany, in 1992 as an open-pollinated seedling of Miscanthus sinensis 'Rotsilber' and 'Yakushima Dwarf'. It received a US plant patent in 2019.
Final Thoughts: Full sun gives the hottest colour, and the plumes stand all winter. The deer keep their distance. SMART DEER.
