A clump-forming, upright and arching, reed-like perennial to 1.5m tall, with square, bamboo-like stems bearing clusters of feathery branches at the nodes. Dark brown flower spikelets are borne at the tips of the stem branches in summer
1-1.5 metres
0.5-1 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light with low humidity. When in growth, water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every month; water sparingly in winter. Outdoors, grow in moderately fertile, well-drained, preferably acid soil in full sun. In frost-prone areas, plant out after the last frosts; lift and pot up in autumn and overwinter in a cool, dry place
Propagate by seed sown in spring
Prune out older stems to ground level when they begin to deteriorate
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly
Generally disease-free