Luminous horizontal bands
Yellow to cream transverse bars divide each leaf into a repeating graphic pattern.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus 17cm
Normal price
€14,90
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’
Bands, height and impeccably upright behaviour 🌾
- Transverse golden bands
- Upright architecture
- Winter silhouette
- RHS AGM
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ forms a tall, disciplined clump of green leaves rhythmically interrupted by luminous yellow bands. Its vertical silhouette reads like living architecture, adding height without spilling loosely like a fountain. Repeated as a seasonal screen or threaded among perennials, it creates clear rhythm, colour and movement; even after drying, its upright line remains striking through winter.
After a sufficiently warm summer, tall stems may carry pink-buff plumes that mature to silver. Foliage later turns pale brown, retaining a strong graphic presence until spring clearance.
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ holds a current RHS Award of Garden Merit, awarded in 2001.
What makes it special
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ is defined not only by its transverse bands but by a rigidly upright habit that separates it from more arching zebra forms.
Narrow upright clump
Rigid blades rise almost vertically, creating a clean inverted-cone outline.
Structure beyond the season
Dry stems and any silver plumes retain a strong graphic presence through winter.
Why you will love it: it brings unusual colour and impressive height in a narrow, disciplined silhouette that instantly organises a border.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations Vertical seasonal axis · full sun · mature spread 50–100cm.
A vertical seasonal axis
Place in the middle or back of a sunny border as a single accent or repeated seasonal screen. Allow roughly 70–100cm between centres and keep dry winter growth away from ignition sources.
Bands, purple and rust
Golden bands gain depth beside dark flower spires and warm autumn colours.
- Symphyotrichum ‘Little Carlow’ — a purple autumn cloud in front of the upright clump.
- Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ — copper flowers that echo the maturing warm foliage.
- Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ — dark purple spires below the banded blades.
Care at a glance
Light
Full sun for a strong upright habit, clear bands and the best chance of autumn flowering.
Watering
Water deeply as soil dries; established plants tolerate relatively dry intervals, but not prolonged drought.
Climate & hardiness
A warm-season grass rated RHS H6; slow to start in spring and intolerant of winter waterlogging.
Safety
Leaf edges are sharp; wear gloves and long sleeves when tying or cutting back in spring.
Detailed care Complete care guide Eight practical points for strong upright blades, clear bands and safe seasonal clearing.
Position
Full sun for a strong upright habit, clear bands and the best chance of autumn flowering.
Watering
Water deeply as soil dries; established plants tolerate relatively dry intervals, but not prolonged drought.
Soil
Moderately fertile, moist but very well-drained soil of any pH.
Feeding
A little compost or light spring feed is enough; excess growth softens and opens the clump.
Seasonal behaviour
A warm-season grass rated RHS H6; slow to start in spring and intolerant of winter waterlogging.
Pruning & clearing
Keep the dry structure through winter, then cut all old stems low in late winter before new growth appears.
Safety
Leaf edges are sharp; wear gloves and long sleeves when tying or cutting back in spring.
Reading the plant
A lack of plumes is not necessarily a problem; flowering depends on accumulated summer heat. If seeds form, remove mature flower heads before they release them to avoid unwanted seedlings.
Development over time How the banded clump rises Three stages from the warm spring start to the gold-banded and straw-coloured winter outline.
Slow warm-season start
New growth emerges after the soil warms and rises from the base.
Summer cross-bands
Upright blades lengthen and fill with characteristic transverse bars.
Silver plumes and winter straw
With enough warmth plumes appear, while the clump later dries upright.
Mature habit & dimensions
established mature plantHeight 1.5–2mSpread 50–100cmNarrow upright banded column
At maturity, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ remains narrow and upright, with green blades, golden cross-bands and a later straw-coloured winter outline. It adds height and a seasonal screen without the broad spread of an arching cultivar.
Form through time
two real statesReal change in habitGreen and gold, later straw-coloured
Slow warm-season startNew growth emerges after the soil warms and rises from the base.
Silver plumes and winter strawWith enough warmth plumes appear, while the clump later dries upright.
The two studies connect new basal growth with the mature banded and winter silhouette.
What to expect after planting: New growth appears after the soil warms, and each season adds more upright stems at the base. The cross-bands strengthen through summer and the dry silhouette remains architectural in winter.
History & origin Cultivar origin Historic garden selection · breeder and year unknown
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ belongs to the oldest variegated selections of the species. German perennial-trial records describe it as a sport arising from an older variegated form, although no documented selector, place of selection or exact date of origin has survived.
In 1911, Dreer’s Garden Book in Philadelphia presented it as a ‘New Ornamental Grass’ under the historic name Eulalia japonica ‘Zebrina Stricta’. It was described as a more erect form of the familiar zebra grass, whose upright habit made the transverse yellow-and-green leaf bands appear more pronounced.
For many years it circulated as ‘Zebrinus Strictus’ before the present cultivar name ‘Strictus’ became established. It is not merely another name for ‘Zebrinus’: the Royal Horticultural Society’s Miscanthus trial of 1998–2003 confirmed them as distinct, with ‘Strictus’ stiffly erect and ‘Zebrinus’ more arching.
In the same trial, ‘Strictus’ received the Award of Garden Merit in 2001, which it still holds.
Greenleaf for Plant Nerds Science nobody asked for Botanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Transverse variegation
The linear leaf has parallel lengthwise veins, yet reduced chlorophyll occurs in transverse sectors, creating the luminous cross-bands.
Warm-season C4 photosynthesis
C4 physiology uses strong light and high temperatures efficiently, explaining the slow start in cool soil and rapid summer growth.
Short rhizomes, variable seed
Short rhizomes keep the clump contained, but clump-forming growth does not determine fertility; production of viable seed varies with cultivar and climate.
Frequently asked questions
Six specific answers covering position, water, soil, space and correct seasonal care.
01What position suits Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ best?
Full sun for a strong upright habit, clear bands and the best chance of autumn flowering.
02How should Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ be watered?
Water deeply as soil dries; established plants tolerate relatively dry intervals, but not prolonged drought.
03What soil does Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ need?
Moderately fertile, moist but very well-drained soil of any pH.
04How much room does Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ need at maturity?
An established plant commonly reaches about 1.5–2m high and 50–100cm across, with natural variation between sites.
05Why is it late to emerge in spring?
It is a warm-season grass and starts only once the soil has genuinely warmed.
06Does it flower every year?
Not necessarily. Silver plumes require sufficient accumulated summer heat to form.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.