Bold, spiked buds reveal a fountain of flowers – introducing Miscanthus Red Spear
Knoll Gardens, the country’s leading ornamental grass specialist, announces the launch of a stunning new Miscanthus.
Named Miscanthus Red Spear for its striking red, spear-like flower buds, this delightful selection forms clumps of silver ribbed green foliage from which arise tall, strongly upright, stems. These remarkable flower buds burst into bright red inflorescences that continue to point skywards in a colourful cloud.
Miscanthus Red Spear grows to a height of between 1.8m and 2.1m and provides a stunning backdrop, it has been used to captivating effect as a generous drift at the back of Knoll Gardens’ Long Walk Borders. Its elegance and height have also been used to dramatic effect in their Mill End border where it works beautifully alongside eupatorum, persicaria, panicum and agapanthus.
As well as working with great dramatic effect planted as a drift or group in borders, Miscanthus Red Spear also makes a superb feature plant on its own in a bed or large container.
As with other Knoll Gardens selections Miscanthus Red Spear has been undergoing trials, both in the garden and on the nursery, for almost fifteen years. Knoll Gardens Director Neil Lucas says “we are delighted to now be able to offer it to gardeners here in the UK, Red Spear was first spotted as a seedling in the garden, growing close to Miscanthus Malepartus, and was selected for its bright red upright facing buds and flowers that even as a young plant were held well clear of the foliage.”
When large enough, that original seedling was lifted and split to make several small plants that were then grown on in the nursery trial area for a few seasons to see how they developed. Once sufficient stock was available, some were planted back into the garden in the Long Walk borders where it has since provided a wonderful display of clear red buds and flowers every year whatever the weather. Proving itself a thoroughly reliable performer for our UK climate.
Like all miscanthus, Miscanthus Red Spear performs best in a full sun position in a range of soils which are not too winter wet. It is a long lived and trouble-free deciduous grass that will retain its upright outline for the winter, only requiring the old foliage to be cut to the ground each spring once the worst of the winter weather is past.
From Spring 2025 Miscanthus Red Spear will be available from Knoll’s on-site nursery or through their website in 2 litre pots priced at £13.99 (plus shipping if via mail order).