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Will my Miscanthus come back?

LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,322
in Plants
I planted my first two Miscanthus last year - 'Starlight' and 'Morning Light', both small specimens. The Starlight grew well and flowered. The Morning Light was a 'rescue' plant but it had recovered well by October so I planted it in the same bed.

In late Feb I cut all my deciduous grasses back as I've done previously but this year I included my two new Miscanthus. There's visible regrowth on Calamagrostis, Deschampsia & Pennisetum but I have to say the Miscanthus look dead. Should I have waited til' a bit later to cut them back?
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border - where old gardeners often wet their plants.
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  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 13,242
    They should be fine, mine are not yet showing new growth.
    There are ashtrays of emulsion,
    for the fag ends of the aristocracy.

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 3,564
    edited 18 March
    @LunarSea Last year I purchased M Flamingo it was only a small plant. The roots looked fine but it took time to show some top growth. Suddenly it really started to grow fast and it was fine. I looked at it yesterday and there were a few tiny green shoots at the base.
    I cut back all my miscanthus end of February.  I can see sighs of life with M Kliene Fontane but this is one of the large ones. I would be very suprised if you have any problems although they are more vulnerable when you have small pieces.
    RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS, SOIL CLAY

    A garden is an oasis for creation, available to anyone with a little space and the compunction to get their hands dirty.

    Dan Pearson
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,719
    it's still only mid March. 
    Bags of time for them to get going
    Devon.
  • bédébédé Posts: 1,768
    Did you see Monty Don's dead grasses Friday night?  If not it is not too late to play catch-up.
      location: Surrey Hills, England, cretaceous acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 3,564
    Monty Don's grasses weren't one of the more hardy ones, together with wet soil I guess that was why.
    RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS, SOIL CLAY

    A garden is an oasis for creation, available to anyone with a little space and the compunction to get their hands dirty.

    Dan Pearson
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,322
    Thanks all, that's encouraging. I'm not noted for my patience :|  It doesn't help when I can see good recovery on my other grasses, even Pennisetum 'Hameln'. The only other one that still seems to be hiding is my Pannicum 'Prairie Sky' which I've re-potted but it was very slow to emerge last year so I'm not too worried.
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border - where old gardeners often wet their plants.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,048
    Miscanthus are a bit slow to get going.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 13,242
    The grass that Monty lost from his paradise garden was, Anemanthele lessoniana, which should be hardy, although interestingly I have also lost several this winter.
    There are ashtrays of emulsion,
    for the fag ends of the aristocracy.

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 1,940
    I grow mainly Calamagrostis and Miscanthus varieties, all cut at the same time in late February.  My Calamagrostis are all visibly in shoot, the Miscanthus always take a bit longer.  I also grow Panicum, they are later than Miscanthus.  Your grasses should be fine.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,322
    Thankyou @Plantminded :)
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border - where old gardeners often wet their plants.
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