Porcupine Grass

‘Super Stripe’ is a named Miscanthus sinensis cultivar selected from an open-pollinated cross with ‘Zebrinus’ as its seed parent; the pollen parent was an unknown selection. Its patent describes a dense, bushy clump with green leaves banded yellow-green, more heavily marked than ‘Zebrinus’ and ‘Strictus’. ## Garden character The leaves begin upright and arch outward as they develop, while the clump remains vigorous and relatively compact in habit. This distinctive pattern makes the plant useful as a focal grass or in groups where the striped foliage can be seen against darker planting. The patent reports no flowering observations in its trial, so it does not establish a flowering season or plume color for the cultivar. ## Growing conditions Choose a sunny site with moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Maiden grass is a warm-season perennial; allow its foliage room to arch and avoid planting where winter soil stays waterlogged. Because M. sinensis can spread by wind-dispersed seed in some regions, check local guidance and remove seedlings that appear. ## Maintenance Cut old foliage down in late winter or early spring before new blades emerge. Divide the clump in spring if it becomes too large or declines in the center. [U.S. plant patent PP18161](https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP18161P2/en), [NC State Extension maiden-grass guidance](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/miscanthus-sinensis/common-name/chinese-silvergrass/).