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miscanthus sinensis little kitten

Miscanthus sinensis Little Kitten is a delightful, compact ornamental grass cherished by New Zealand gardeners for its fine texture, elegant form, and low-maintenance nature. If you’re searching for the perfect grass to add movement, texture, and year-round interest to your garden—without taking over your space—Little Kitten is an excellent choice. Its tidy clumps of slender foliage and graceful flower plumes bring softness and contrast to planting beds, borders, and containers, making it versatile for gardens of any size.

Callistemon 'Little John' shrub in a courtyard garden covered in elegant, red flowers.

Callistemon 'Little John'

5 from 3 customers

Callistemon 'Little John' is a compact dwarf bottlebrush celebrated for its deep red flowers and fine blue green foliage. Flowering from spring into summer, it attracts bees and birds while maintaining a neat rounded shape all year. This hardy shrub thrives in sunny New Zealand gardens, tolerates coastal exposure and dry conditions, and is perfect for modern landscapes, borders and low maintenance planting schemes.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Shrubs
Height: 1.00 m
Spread: 1.00 m
Flowering time: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas
Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Mediterranean, Modern, Rock
An elegant Miscanthus sinensis grass with cream-coloured flower plumes and lush green foliage.

Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus sinensis is an ornamental grass that grows as a clump of narrow, arching, green leaves. The colouring gives a light silver-green effect to the foliage, hence the common name, Japanese Silver Grass. Tall spikes of plum-like flowers are borne in summer, which are cream with a pink tone as they grow to 1.5 m tall and 1 m wide. Miscanthus sinensis is commonly included in mixed plantings, planted around a water feature, used as a backdrop for other plants, or included in borders.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Grasses
Height: 1.00 m
Spread: 1.00 m
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Borders, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Riparian
Zebra grass (Miscanthus 'Zebrinus') leaves with cream and green stripes.

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A Liquidambar 'Little Richard' specimen tree in autumn displaying dark red-purple foliage.

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Cedrela sinensis Flamingo (Toon Tree)

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Dianella revoluta 'Little Rev' plants in a garden.

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Dianella 'Little Rev' (Blue Flax Lily) is a compact and hardy ornamental grass like plant valued for its attractive blue green foliage and tidy...

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Corokia 'Little Prince' plants with grey stems and small green leaves at The Plant Company nursery.

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A mass planting of Dianella caerulea 'Little Jess' plants with lush, green foliage.

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Sophora prostrata 'Little Baby' small plant in a pot.

Sophora 'Little Baby'

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A Camellia 'Little Liane' exquisite, white flower.

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Camellia 'Little Liane' is a charming evergreen shrub admired for its soft pink blooms and glossy dark green foliage. This compact camellia flowers...

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Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' white flower.

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Callistemon 'Little John'

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Callistemon, Camellia, Cedrela, Corokia, Dianella, Ginkgo, Liquidambar, Lomandra, Magnolia, Miscanthus Nyssa and Sophora, or related Categories - Flaxes, Grasses, Deciduous Shrubs, Evergreen Shrubs Deciduous Trees and Magnolia Trees.

Search miscanthus sinensis little kitten

Why Choose Miscanthus sinensis Little Kitten?

Unlike larger miscanthus varieties, Miscanthus sinensis Little Kitten remains petite, typically growing to just 60-80cm tall. Its arching, deep green leaves provide a refined appearance that suits urban gardens, cottage borders, and even minimalist designs. In late summer to autumn, Little Kitten produces silvery flower plumes that rise above the foliage, catching the light and swaying in the breeze—a real highlight that lasts into winter.

Gardeners love Little Kitten for its resilience. It’s tolerant of most well-drained soils, including coastal locations, and copes well with New Zealand’s varied climate. Once established, it requires minimal care and is pest and disease resistant.

Planting and Care Tips

Miscanthus sinensis Little Kitten thrives in full sun but will tolerate partial shade, though flowering is best in sunnier spots. Plant in well-drained soil and water to establish. Once settled, Little Kitten is drought-tolerant and demands little maintenance. In late winter, simply cut back old foliage to allow fresh new leaves to emerge in spring.

Regular division every few years keeps clumps healthy and prevents congestion. Little Kitten is excellent for creating low-maintenance borders, softening hard landscaping, or planting en masse for a meadow-inspired look.

Great Companions and Alternatives

Pairing Little Kitten with other ornamental grasses or compact shrubs can enhance texture and variety in your garden. Consider combining with Miscanthus sinensis for height, or with the striped beauty of Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus'. Miscanthus 'Morning Light' offers soft, silvery foliage, while Miscanthus 'Zebrinus' adds bold, horizontal striping.

For something different but equally compact, Callistemon 'Little John' brings beautiful red bottlebrush flowers and contrasting evergreen leaves.

Transform Your Garden with Little Kitten

Whether you’re creating a relaxing seating area, filling a small urban courtyard, or designing a naturalistic border, Miscanthus sinensis Little Kitten delivers visual appeal and year-round structure. Its mini-hedge potential and attractive plumes make it a favourite among garden designers and home gardeners alike.

Embrace the beauty and resilience of Miscanthus sinensis Little Kitten in your outdoor space—you’ll enjoy effortless landscaping with enduring charm season after season. Explore our full range of Miscanthus sinensis varieties and discover more planting inspiration today.


Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

Our most famous blooms include Aesculus hippocastanum and Avocado 'Hass', but some of our best-kept secrets are Cymbopogon citratus (Lemongrass), Clivia Yellow (Natal Lily), and Hydrangea 'Blueberries and Cream' — underrated beauties ready to shine.
–The Plant Company

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