Porcupine Grass

Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'

$38¹¹

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Plant Size

#1 Container #3 Container

Product variants

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Cold hardy, Low Maintenance, Deer-resistant, Slopes/Erosion Control, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant, Hedge/Screen, and Container Friendly

Specifications

Botanical Name

Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'
Height

6-8 ft
Width

3-4 ft
Growing Zones

4-10
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Fast
Flower Color
- White
Leaf Color
- Green
- Yellow
- Variegated
Fall Color

Tan
Pollinator Required

No
Bloom Period

Late Summer, Early Fall
Does Not Ship To

AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, MA, MT, NV, NY, OR, UT, WA

Planting & Care Instructions

Where to Plant

This grass needs ample sunshine to maintain its unique, rigid, yellow-striped foliage and strong upright structure.

Sunlight: Give your Porcupine Grass a minimum of six hours of direct sun daily. While it can handle partial shade, expect the striking yellow variegation to be less intense, and the plant may slightly lean or flop if light is insufficient.
Soil: Plant it in average, well-draining soil. It is remarkably adaptable, but it truly thrives in loamy soil that remains evenly moist. For heavy clay, mix in compost and grit to improve drainage; for sandy soil, work in peat or compost to help hold moisture.

Watering Requirements

When newly planted, water your grass deeply once or twice per week, ensuring the top few inches of soil stay consistently moist to establish a deep root system. Once mature—after its first full growing season—Porcupine Grass is quite drought-tolerant and requires far less attention, but periods of inconsistent or severe under-watering will reduce its height and cause its handsome leaves and feathery plumes to stress and brown prematurely.

Pruning Tips

Porcupine Grass is a warm-season grass that blooms on new wood (new growth from the crown). The "why" here is to tidy up and clear the way for fresh growth. Wait until late winter or very early spring, just before the new green shoots begin to emerge, then use sharp shears to cut the entire clump back to about 6 to 8 inches above the ground. Leaving the dried plumes and foliage up throughout winter provides great texture and visual interest until the spring cleanup.

Fertilizer Needs

If your soil is poor, apply a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring as new growth appears. For average soil, this grass is not a heavy feeder and rarely needs much; over-fertilizing can lead to weak, floppy growth that lacks the desirable stiff, upright habit. What to avoid: Do not use high-nitrogen liquid feeds late in the season, as this can encourage soft growth that is highly susceptible to winter damage.

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Growing Zones 4-10

Find Your Growing Zone!

The Porcupine Grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus') has green leaves with cream-colored horizontal bands. These leaves make this ornamental grass stand out anywhere! Silvery white plumes that rise high above the foliage in fall are incredible fall and winter interest and can be cut for floral bouquets and dried décor.

This grass has a rigid, upright habit and stiff, pointed leaf blades, some of which stick out at angles like porcupine quills. Along the length of each blade, the bright green foliage has bright horizontal bands of golden yellow at even intervals along every leaf.

The Porcupine tolerates a wide range of soil types and is moderately drought-tolerant. It will hold up to wind and snow. Tall with a tidy columnar form, these are narrow-growing ornamental grasses that save space while adding fast-growing impact to your garden beds.

Planting and Application:

Use this plant as a specimen, for mass plantings, either way, the effect is amazing! The unusual variegation really shows off as a vertical accent among garden beds and borders and adds dramatic effects when en masse. Imagine the effect that it will have waving in the breeze on your landscape!

Great for coastal areas or plant them next to Rain Gardens, ponds or pools, water features and other medium to higher moisture environments. Growing 6-8 feet in height and only 3-4 feet in width, Porcupine Grass is great privacy and screening throughout the growing season. Use these are great texture and motion grasses to use around meditation and destination spots or in rows around seating areas.

Tall, Tough & Showy!
Warm-Season Grass Variety
White Flower Plumes in Autumn
Green & Cream Banded Leaves
Upright & Rigid Foliage & Columnar Form
Coastal Areas, Mass Plantings, Borders, Cutting Gardens & Specimen

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Ornamental grasses are easy-care and no-nonsense plants! Plant in full sun or part shade for the strongest stems. Choose a well-drained site with moderate moisture. In early spring remove the dead foliage before the plants begin new growth. Clumps may be divided every 3 years or so in early spring. It is deer resistant and has very few pests and disease issues. Warm-season grasses may green up later in the spring, but really shine once the hot, dry summer weather kicks in!

Full Sun & Partial Shade for Strongest Stems
Moderate Moisture & Well-Drained Soil
Fast-Growing Plants
Prune Early Spring Before New Growth Emerges
Deer & Pest Resistant

Hardy USDA growing zones 4-10, these are Ornamental and adaptable perennial grasses that deer and pests leave very much alone! For unique stripes and spikey texture without all the fuss, choose the colorful Porcupine Grass today from NatureHills.com!

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

Porcupine Grass

Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'

Plant Sentry™

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Specifications