Whether we are experiencing an Indian summer that breaks all records or a pre-winter Siberian blast, this part of autumn can deliver some of the most spectacular garden displays in the year.. 

It may surprise none of you who read regularly to learn that one of the stars of the border to which I would draw your attention is the genus Miscanthus, the most striking of late season ornamental grasses.  As a self-confessed grass nut, I have been perusing my own collection to see what I might recommend & have to report that there is probably a Miscanthus fit for every garden.  The most striking features of Miscanthus are the profusion of feathery plumes that remain throughout the winter, & at this time of year the sumptuous architectural green foliage changing into their autumn hues.  A quick count in my garden reveals at least ten different Miscanthus & that will be expanding the next time I get into a good grass nursery.
Those of you with small gardens town gardens might look at the Miscanthus canon & think that they are too big, but two varieties of Miscanthus sinensis are perfectly at home in a restricted space. Smallest is the delicate ‘Yakushima Dwarf’, which will not grow beyond 2 ft & is, like all Miscanthus, clump forming & not invasive. Alternately, ‘Kleine Fontäne’ is more upright, & only slightly bigger.
Medium-sized gardens can use specimens as focal points or to introduce rhythm into a border when planted at set intervals. Here again it is the Miscanthus sinensis varieties that provide the best options.  ‘Malepartus’ is my personal favourite, growing to 5 / 6 ft with huge purple / red flower heads & a burgundy tinge on the strap-like leaves.  ‘Gracillimus’ is a dense fountain of fine leaves, only flowering at the very end of an Indian summer, so it should be used an architectural accent, not for flowers.  Of the variegated varieties I would suggest the horizontally banded ‘Zebrinus’, the creamy striped ‘Cabaret’ or the ethereal ‘Morning Light’
The larger landscape is where the Miscanthus can really come into its own.  Swathes of striking grasses next to a lake or stream or in framing a gazebo will add movement, structure & interest to the plainest of vistas, & the choices & effects are many.  Here Miscanthus sinensis ‘Grosse Fontäne’ is a great stock plant that will reach 7 or 8 ft with creamy plumes.  Miscanthus saccariflorus is slightly larger with silvery white upright plumes but is more difficult to source. In grass & plant reference books, many authorities will tell you that Miscanthus floridulus & Miscanthus x giganteus are the same plant.  In my garden I have both, & they are similar but not the same.  Overall they will reach 10 to 12 feet in a damp spot with 40mm wide leaves & are a dominant plant that requires careful placement.  Quite often you see them advertised as ‘instant’ hedging, but if you don’t mind your hedge disappearing between February & July then by all means use them.  As a late summer wind break they are excellent, but they are stripped by the cold December wind & are the only Miscanthus that are not that good over winter.  These specimens will flower only in exceptional circumstances in this country & are grown for foliage alone.  As a choice I would favour x giganteus as it has darker leaves & seems to resist the frost & hence retains its colour longer, but it is more difficult to find.
Care of Miscanthus grasses is pretty straight forward if you follow some basic rules of thumb.  Planting is best done in May when they are already sprouting, as this is when the roots are most active.  Good, slow release organic fertiliser will do them the power of good in spring. They may be divided in April / May by lifting the clump & splitting with a sharp spade.  When replanting a split plant, cut the leaves down by half to prevent water loss until the roots recover, & water in well.  Leave them well alone at the moment, & cut down to the ground in March when the first shoots show, this will maximise the architectural effects throughout the winter season.  The profusely flowering varieties will seed down, but not to the point where it is a problem.  If you do have several species in your garden then seedlings may produce ‘sports’ that encompass the qualities of different parent grasses, so are worth preserving & potting on.