Miller, James H.; Manning, Steven T.; Enloe, Stephen F. 2010. A management guide for invasive plants in southern forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–131. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 120 p.
Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis Andersson) is a tall, densely tufted, perennial grass, 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 m) in height from a perennial root crown. It has long, slender, and upright-to-arching leaves with whitish upper midveins and many loosely plumed panicles turning silvery to pinkish in fall. Dried grass remains standing with some seed heads during winter, but seed viability is variable depending on cultivar and location. Spreading invasive cultivars have viable seeds. Species forms extensive infestations by escaping from older ornamental plantings to roadsides, forest margins, rights-of-way, and adjacent disturbed sites, especially after burning. Presently only an invasive problem in the northern tier of States in the southern region, while projected widespread plantings for biomass and biofuels could result in aggravated problems.
Management strategies
- Do not plant. Remove prior plantings, and control sprouts and seedlings. Bag and dispose of plants and seed heads in a dumpster or burn.
- Treat when new plants are young to prevent seed formation.
- Minimize disturbance within miles of where fertile plants occur, and anticipate wider occupation if plants are present or adjacent before disturbance.
- Do not mow when there are seed heads.
- Burning treatments are suspected of having minimal effect, and dormant standing infestations in winter are highly flammable and pose a fire hazard.
Recommended control procedures
- Thoroughly wet all leaves with one of the following herbicides in water with a surfactant (September or October with multiple applications to regrowth): Arsenal AC* as a 1-percent solution (4 ounces per 3-gallon mix). When safety to surrounding vegetation is desired, a glyphosate herbicide as a 4-percent solution (1 pint per 3-gallon mix) only to the target plants; or a combination of the two herbicides, Arsenal AC* as a 0.5-percent solution (2 ounces per 3-gallon mix) plus a glyphosate herbicide as a 4-percent solution (2 ounces plus 1 pint per 3-gallon mix). Repeat applications when new growth reaches 2 feet (60 cm) in height.
* Nontarget plants may be killed or injured by root uptake.
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