Autumn Light Maiden Grass

‘Autumn Light’ is a clump-forming maiden grass with long, arching green leaves and reddish-pink plumes in late summer. The foliage mound remains upright through the season, while the flower stems add height and persist into the cooler months. ## Garden character The Morton Arboretum reports plants around 7 ft tall in foliage and 8 ft in flower, with reddish-pink flowers and cold hardiness to USDA zone 5. Its profile supports the existing 6–8 ft height and 4–5 ft width labels. This warm-season grass is suited to a sunny border or background planting where its late bloom and winter structure have room to show. ‘Autumn Light’ is a named cultivar of M. sinensis, a species whose seed can escape cultivation; the University of Minnesota recommends watching plantings for seedlings and favors managed settings where escapes can be controlled. ## Growing conditions Give it full sun for sturdier growth and better flowering; too much shade can reduce bloom and increase flopping. Moist, well-drained soil is a useful starting point, though cultivar responses to wet or dry conditions vary. ## Maintenance Leave old stems standing for winter interest. Cut the clump to the ground in early spring before new growth begins, and remove seedlings if they appear. [Morton Arboretum Chinese silver grass profile](https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/chinese-silver-grass/), [University of Minnesota Miscanthus recommendations](https://miscanthus.cfans.umn.edu/recommendations).