Miscanthus Giganteus

aruzinsky · 09-20-2017, 02:27 PM

I first saw it growing at a house two blocks away and mistook it as a variety of bamboo:

I later discovered that it was a grass and bought rhizomes from Maple River Farms - Your Source For Miscanthus X Giganteus Rhizomes

Here are my plants after 2 years:

I will post more pictures after it goes to tassel.

The most remarkable characteristic of this plant is that it is insensitive to fertigation under normal soil conditions. Another unusual characteristic is that it is relatively efficient at doing photosynthesis. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscanthus_giganteus. On a dry weight, albeit not a wet weight bases, it grows faster than any musa.

Iowa · 09-21-2017, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aruzinsky

I first saw it growing at a house two blocks away and mistook it as a variety of bamboo:

I later discovered that it was a grass and bought rhizomes from Maple River Farms - Your Source For Miscanthus X Giganteus Rhizomes

Here are my plants after 2 years:

I will post more pictures after it goes to tassel.

The most remarkable characteristic of this plant is that it is insensitive to fertigation under normal soil conditions. Another unusual characteristic is that it is relatively efficient at doing photosynthesis. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscanthus_giganteus. On a dry weight, albeit not a wet weight bases, it grows faster than any musa.

Give it room, it will spread. It is tough to dig up when it is established.

aruzinsky · 09-21-2017, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowa

Give it room, it will spread. It is tough to dig up when it is established.

The clump in the first photo is decades old. I don't know what the homeowner did to contain it, but, apparently, it can be done.

Have you tried Glyphosate around the edges of the clump?

Iowa · 09-21-2017, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aruzinsky

The clump in the first photo is decades old. I don't know what the homeowner did to contain it, but, apparently, it can be done.

Have you tried Glyphosate around the edges of the clump?

I use large rocks around mine, it contains it. If I cut some out I use a saws all with a 12" pruning blade. If you keep it mowed where you don't want it that works too.

Iowa · 09-21-2017, 04:54 PM

GIANT REED GRASS

This is a nice plant but invasive in warmer areas, here it's a tender perennial. I lost this to a late April cold snap, again. After cutting and digging 2 pickup loads of roots I did not plant it again. At 22' tall it looks great. next to it on the left in the second pic is some Miscanthus Giganteus, a little hard to see.

aruzinsky · 09-22-2017, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowa

GIANT REED GRASS

This is a nice plant but invasive in warmer areas, here it's a tender perennial. I lost this to a late April cold snap, again. After cutting and digging 2 pickup loads of roots I did not plant it again. At 22' tall it looks great. next to it on the left in the second pic is some Miscanthus Giganteus, a little hard to see.

Thank you for making me aware of Giant Reed Grass. Wikipedia has a lot of interesting things to say about it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundo_donax .

In particular, it concerns me that the plant is a fire hazard. Also, unlike Miscanthus Giganteus, it responds to fertilizer when young.

Iowa · 09-22-2017, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aruzinsky

Thank you for making me aware of Giant Reed Grass. Wikipedia has a lot of interesting things to say about it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundo_donax .

In particular, it concerns me that the plant is a fire hazard. Also, unlike Miscanthus Giganteus, it responds to fertilizer when young.

I didn't have any fire problems, grown it for several years. Any dry flammable plant material is a fire hazard though.

aruzinsky · 09-22-2017, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowa

Any dry flammable plant material is a fire hazard though.

Wikipedia said, "It is highly flammable throughout the year." which implied that it is also flammable while green.

Iowa · 09-22-2017, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aruzinsky

Wikipedia said, "It is highly flammable throughout the year." which implied that it is also flammable while green.

That's interesting.

cincinnana · 09-23-2017, 09:07 PM

This is a beautiful plant...but it it is incredibly invasive once let loose, and it will get loose.

The plant is the kudzu of the wetlands, an absolute habitat destroyer.

aruzinsky · 09-24-2017, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

This is a beautiful plant...but it it is incredibly invasive once let loose, and it will get loose.

The plant is the kudzu of the wetlands, an absolute habitat destroyer.

Someone might incorrectly conclude that you are referring to Miscanthus Giganteus instead of Arundo Donax, especially if the former is more beautiful than the latter in the eyes of the beholder.

I just remembered that, around 2003, the TV show, 60 Minutes, had a story about (what someone else told me was) Aundo Donax growing in the marshes of Iraq (60 Minutes didn't mention the botanical name). The Arab natives made houses entirely out of it. The houses of the wealthiest were large and elaborate, sort of reed mansions. These houses were amazing. See https://www.google.com/search?q=%22h...w=1280&bih=641

cincinnana · 09-25-2017, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aruzinsky

Someone might incorrectly conclude that you are referring to Miscanthus Giganteus instead of Arundo Donax, especially if the former is more beautiful than the latter in the eyes of the beholder.

I just remembered that, around 2003, the TV show, 60 Minutes, had a story about (what someone else told me was) Aundo Donax growing in the marshes of Iraq (60 Minutes didn't mention the botanical name). The Arab natives made houses entirely out of it. The houses of the wealthiest were large and elaborate, sort of reed mansions. These houses were amazing. See https://www.google.com/search?q=%22h...w=1280&bih=641

Thanks for the clarification...

You are right, Both plants are very invasive and beautiful in the right conditions.

Yet both are invasive in the right conditions.

Iowa · 09-25-2017, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

Thanks for the clarification...

You are right, Both plants are very invasive and beautiful in the right conditions.

Yet both are invasive in the right conditions.

This is very true of a lot of plants, even Banana Plants are invasive in the right conditions.

aruzinsky · 09-26-2017, 08:16 AM

Speaking of invasive plants, I recently learned that white poplar trees are not endemic to the U.S., but, instead, brought over in 1748. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populus_alba .

As a child, I vacationed in Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin, which had many white poplar trees growing near lake shores (the only other white trees were birch). Of course, I assumed that those trees belonged there so now it is a big surprise (almost a shock) to learn that they didn't.

beam2050 · 09-26-2017, 08:31 AM

went to drill a well at a home once, there were large trees on the place big beautiful leaves. never see one like that before, nice shade. that was when we didn't nave cell phones. don't know what they were but they had took over the whole yard, going into the neighbors yards. even coming up thru the boards on the porch. it was spreading thru the root system. I dug a few small ones thinking to plant them at my place, the I thought better of it. it probably would have killed my septic system. I don't believe root rid would have kept up.

aruzinsky · 10-20-2017, 10:27 AM

Update: With Tassles. Note 10 ft. PVC pipe for size comparison.

aruzinsky · 10-26-2018, 03:08 PM

This year's growth:

In the Spring, part of the clump grew outside the bed in the gravel path next to the bed. One application of glyphosate killed those plants. The plants, connected to it by underground rhizomes, were only slightly stunted.

cincinnana · 10-30-2018, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aruzinsky

This year's growth:

In the Spring, part of the clump grew outside the bed in the gravel path next to the bed. One application of killed those plants. The plants, connected to it by underground rhizomes, were only slightly stunted.

That is a nice plant.

Steve, what % of glyphosate did you use to kill the plant?

aruzinsky · 10-30-2018, 11:26 AM

I sprayed with 0.8% glyphosate, with about 3 tbs. ammonium sulfate and 2 tsp. Triton X-100 surfactant per gallon of water. I think the brand of glyphosate was Compare-N-Save. I never use Roundup anymore.

09-20-2017, 02:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
aruzinsky Location: IL Find me on the map! Zone: 6a (10 miles east of 5b) Name: Steve Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 499 BananaBucks : 169,927 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 788 Times in 317 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Miscanthus Giganteus I first saw it growing at a house two blocks away and mistook it as a variety of bamboo: I later discovered that it was a grass and bought rhizomes from Maple River Farms - Your Source For Miscanthus X Giganteus Rhizomes Here are my plants after 2 years: I will post more pictures after it goes to tassel. The most remarkable characteristic of this plant is that it is insensitive to fertigation under normal soil conditions. Another unusual characteristic is that it is relatively efficient at doing photosynthesis. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscanthus_giganteus. On a dry weight, albeit not a wet weight bases, it grows faster than any musa.

09-21-2017, 04:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Iowa Location: Burlington,Iowa Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Mike Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 705 BananaBucks : 45,735 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 571 Times Was Thanked 1,019 Times in 383 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 601 Times	Re: Miscanthus Giganteus GIANT REED GRASS This is a nice plant but invasive in warmer areas, here it's a tender perennial. I lost this to a late April cold snap, again. After cutting and digging 2 pickup loads of roots I did not plant it again. At 22' tall it looks great. next to it on the left in the second pic is some Miscanthus Giganteus, a little hard to see. __________________ Growing Musa Orinoco since 1993 - Added 2018-Basjoo, Zebrina' Rojo, Ensete Red Abyssinian - Added 2019-Goldfinger - Added 2020-Kokopo (Short Cycle), Double (Mahoi), Highgate, Super Dwarf Cavendish - Added 2021-Pisang Ceylon(Mysore), Musa Margarita, Ensete Ventricosum - Added 2023 - Siam Ruby Last edited by Iowa : 09-21-2017 at 04:58 PM.

09-23-2017, 09:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,851 BananaBucks : 1,255 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,897 Times Was Thanked 11,766 Times in 4,906 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,949 Times	Re: Miscanthus Giganteus This is a beautiful plant...but it it is incredibly invasive once let loose, and it will get loose. The plant is the kudzu of the wetlands, an absolute habitat destroyer. __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴 Last edited by cincinnana : 09-24-2017 at 04:05 AM.

09-26-2017, 08:16 AM	#14 (permalink)
aruzinsky Location: IL Find me on the map! Zone: 6a (10 miles east of 5b) Name: Steve Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 499 BananaBucks : 169,927 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 788 Times in 317 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: Miscanthus Giganteus Speaking of invasive plants, I recently learned that white poplar trees are not endemic to the U.S., but, instead, brought over in 1748. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populus_alba . As a child, I vacationed in Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin, which had many white poplar trees growing near lake shores (the only other white trees were birch). Of course, I assumed that those trees belonged there so now it is a big surprise (almost a shock) to learn that they didn't.

09-26-2017, 08:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
beam2050 banana cereal killer Location: middleburg fl. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b-8a Name: walkinbeam Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 2,432 BananaBucks : 529 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10,754 Times Was Thanked 3,364 Times in 1,545 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 816 Times	Re: Miscanthus Giganteus went to drill a well at a home once, there were large trees on the place big beautiful leaves. never see one like that before, nice shade. that was when we didn't nave cell phones. don't know what they were but they had took over the whole yard, going into the neighbors yards. even coming up thru the boards on the porch. it was spreading thru the root system. I dug a few small ones thinking to plant them at my place, the I thought better of it. it probably would have killed my septic system. I don't believe root rid would have kept up. __________________ ................................................... npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7 npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5 Last edited by beam2050 : 09-26-2017 at 11:25 AM.

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10-20-2017, 10:27 AM	#16 (permalink)
aruzinsky Location: IL Find me on the map! Zone: 6a (10 miles east of 5b) Name: Steve Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 499 BananaBucks : 169,927 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 788 Times in 317 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: Miscanthus Giganteus Update: With Tassles. Note 10 ft. PVC pipe for size comparison.

10-26-2018, 03:08 PM	#17 (permalink)
aruzinsky Location: IL Find me on the map! Zone: 6a (10 miles east of 5b) Name: Steve Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 499 BananaBucks : 169,927 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 788 Times in 317 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: Miscanthus Giganteus This year's growth: In the Spring, part of the clump grew outside the bed in the gravel path next to the bed. One application of glyphosate killed those plants. The plants, connected to it by underground rhizomes, were only slightly stunted.

10-30-2018, 11:26 AM	#19 (permalink)
aruzinsky Location: IL Find me on the map! Zone: 6a (10 miles east of 5b) Name: Steve Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 499 BananaBucks : 169,927 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 788 Times in 317 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: Miscanthus Giganteus I sprayed with 0.8% glyphosate, with about 3 tbs. ammonium sulfate and 2 tsp. Triton X-100 surfactant per gallon of water. I think the brand of glyphosate was Compare-N-Save. I never use Roundup anymore.

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