We are following the treatment in Plants of the World Online (see https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:408749-1 (accessed 16/05/2023)). However, the plant is much better known by its synonym, Miscanthus × giganteus J.M.Greef & Deuter ex Hodk. & Renvoize

Common Name:

General Information

Miscanthus × longiberbis is a very robust herbaceous perennial grass with a rhizomatous rootstock. It forms large clumps that look somewhat like bamboo, and can be more than 3 metres tall.
The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental, but is more commonly grown on a commercial scale to provide biomass. It has been shown to have a high biomass productivity under cold and temperate environments, a low fertilizer requirement, and a high ability to lock carbon in the soil[].

Known Hazards

The leaves have saw-toothed edges that can cut the unwary gardener, it is best to wear gloves when working with the plant[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - northeast China, Japan, Korea

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	2.50 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental

Cultivation Details

A very easy to grow and tolerant plant, succeeding in most soils inclusing saline, alkaline, . It also does well in nutritionally poor soils and will grow on land polluted by industrial waste.
Yields of 30 tonnes per hectare of dried stems can be achieved within 3 years from planting the rhizomes.
This species is a natural, sterile hybrid between Miscanthus sacchariflorus and Miscanthus sinensis.
This species photosynthesizes by a more efficient method than most plants. Called the 'C4 carbon-fixation pathway', this process is particularly efficient at high temperatures, in bright sunlight and under dry conditions. The leaves have saw-toothed edges that can cut the unwary gardener, it is best to wear gloves when working with the plant[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Miscanthus can endure soil pollution caused by various heavy metals and is able to survive and thrive in a variety of adverse environmental conditions. Therefore, it also has potential applications in the ecological remediation of contaminated soil, and the reclamation of polluted soil and water resources[].
The plant has the capacity to absorb and fix heavy metals; remove organic pollutants; promote carbon deposition; improve soil physicochemical properties; and prevent soil erosion. It is of great ecological and economic significance to remediate soils contaminated by heavy metals by planting Miscanthus, especially for the soils of mining wasteland. It has been shown that this species can grow normally on soils heavily contaminated with copper, arsenic, and zinc. While Miscanthus is not considered a super-accumulator
plant for heavy metals, it has a relatively strong absorption and transport capacity for zinc, arsenic, lead, and chrome. The metals are mainly accumulated in the parts of the plant that are below the soil surface. Whilst they are removed from the soil, in order to permanently remove them from the land the roots of the plants would also need to be removed[].

Other Uses

Miscanthus is an excellent biomass crop. It has relatively high biomass yield, calorific value, and cellulose content compared with other lignocellulosic bioenergy crops, which make it one of the most promising feedstocks for the production of second-generation biofuels[].
Apart from its energy uses, the plant can also be used to provide raw material for paper making, building materials, packaging materials, and for the production of a variety of chemicals.

Propagation

Seed - this hybrid does not produce fertile seed.
Division of the rhizomes in winter and early spring.