Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
 | 
Online Publication Date: 01 Sept 1999

Miscanthus Anderss. Produces Viable Seed in Four USDA Hardiness Zones

and
Page Range: 137 – 140
DOI: 10.24266/0738-2898-17.3.137
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Abstract

Forty-one taxa of Miscanthus grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 4, 5, 6, and 7 were examined in 1996 and 1997 for seed set and viability. Although laboratory results varied widely between years, climatic zones, and cultivars, many plants set viable seed. Eleven types had <18% viable seed, including ‘Morning Light’, ‘Variegatus’ and ‘Zebrinus’, and appear to represent the least risk for becoming invasive plants, especially in northern climates. Other characteristics of Miscanthus are discussed in terms of invasive potential in the United States.

Keywords: exotic plant; risk assessment; seed germination; ornamental grass; landscape grass; giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus Greef.); small Japanese miscanthus (M. oligostachyus Stapf.); eulalia or miscanthus (M. sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Hack.); miscanthus or eulalia (M. sinensis Anderss.); cultivars listed in Table 2
Copyright: Copyright, All Rights Reserved 1999

Contributor Notes

Paper No. 981210032 of the Scientific Journal Series, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. Research supported in part by the Perennial Plant Association.

2Assistant professor and research technician, resp.

Received: 02 Dec 1998
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