This ornamental grass retains its seed heads and erect stems to provide winter structure on the Herbaceous Beds.
Ornamental grasses are greatly valued for their texture and form in the garden, and while many are selected for their mid-late summer interest, they also persist to provide valuable winter interest, and shelter and food for insects and birds. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Krater’ is a clump-forming selection with erect, reed-like stems to 1.5m tall. In late summer it produces panicles of plume-like, silky red spikelets, which take on golden tones in winter. M. sinensis is an Asian species which has been bred for its ornamental value. The genus Miscanthus contains approximately 20 species of deciduous grasses from eastern Asia and southern Africa. A number of these are used commercially for roof thatch, and also as a bio-fuel.