A miscanthus hedge over 2.5 m tall by its second summer
Rhizomes of giant miscanthus, Miscanthus × giganteus, planted in two rows. On our fields in Croatia the plants stand above 2.5 m in their second summer, and the hedge grows back every year for at least 15 years with one cut a year.
- 2.5 m+in the second summer
- 4rhizomes per metre
- 15+ yearsone cut a year
Miscanthus beside a farm track east of Netherton House, Devon, in September 2020. Photo by Derek Harper, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
See the hedge grow, month by month
Choose the age of the hedge and move through the months. The rhizomes are planted in spring; the shoots of the first summer reach waist to chest height, and from the second summer the hedge stands above head height.
1.0 mAugustabout 5 shoots per plantBelow eye level
The scene is an illustration drawn from our own figures: on our fields in Croatia a rhizome gives about 5 shoots in its first year, about 20 in the second and about 50 from the third, and the plants stand above 2.5 m in their second summer. The curves through the year are indicative. The hedge is cut close to the ground in late winter.
- 2.5 m+in the second summer on our fields in Croatia
- 3-4 mheight of a mature hedge by late summer
- 0.7 mwidth at the base from the third year, when the two rows have closed
- 15+ yearsthe hedge grows back to this height every year
At six cooler European trial sites the stands averaged 2.1 m in their third summer.
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October
Winter
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February
WinterPlan the hedge around your plot
A hedge on three sides of a house plot of 1,000 m² is about 105 m long. Set the size of your plot and choose the sides.
- Hedge
- 105 m
- Rhizomes
- 462
Kit price€996.98
The price includes 10% off for orders placed by 30 November 2026. Without the discount: €1,107.75.
Miscanthus next to other hedges
The time to a screen 2 m high, the cuts the hedge needs every year and the price of the plants for one metre, without planting.
Prices of privet, thuja and cherry laurel were read on sellers' pages in Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia on 11 November 2026. Bare-root privet is sold from October to March; the range is for Slovenia and Italy, and in Hungary it costs €3-8 a metre. The time to a screen 2 m high is our estimate from the yearly growth that garden guides give, and the cuts a year come from the same guides. Thuja and cherry laurel are evergreen and screen all year; miscanthus and privet do not.
Four things to know first
- It is open in spring
After the cut in late winter the hedge gives no screen until the new shoots reach head height in June. For privacy all year, add an evergreen hedge or a fence.
- It cannot be kept low
The hedge reaches 3-4 m and is not trimmed to a height. Check the distance from the boundary that applies to plants over 2 m where you live; the guide lists the rules of several countries.
- Dry canes burn easily
From late autumn until the cut the canes are dry. Keep open fire away from the hedge and leave a gap between it and buildings.
- It widens slowly at the base
A clump grows to about 70 cm across and stops where it meets its neighbours. Mow a strip along both sides once a year, and do not plant on a stream bank, because pieces of rhizome carried by water can take root.
What you receive and how it is planted
The kit is planting stock. The rhizomes arrive dormant, packed in special boxes, and only need to be planted in the ground. We supply the rhizomes only: the kit does not include grown plants or planting.
- Rhizomes of the sterile clone 'Illinois' of Miscanthus × giganteus, generations G1 and G2, lifted dormant and kept cold until delivery.
- Four rhizomes for every metre of hedge, plus 10% spare, because some rhizomes do not establish after planting.
- The EU plant passport with every delivery.
- A planting plan for the length of your hedge.
When the rhizomes arrive
- Within a week Plant the rhizomes within a week of delivery.
- If planting has to wait Keep the rhizomes in a dark, cold place with high humidity.
- Before planting Soak the rhizomes in water.
Planting in five steps
- Clear a stripDig a strip 1.3 m wide and clear it of perennial weeds.
- Plant10-15 cm deep, buds upwards, 50 cm apart, in two rows 30 cm apart.
- Firm and waterTread the soil down over each rhizome and water if the spring is dry.
- Weed for two summersHoe or mulch the strip. From the third year the hedge shades it.
- Cut once a yearIn late winter, close to the ground, with a hedge trimmer or a brush cutter.
The full guide covers the layouts, the boundary rules, the cutting and the uses of the canes: A miscanthus hedge.
One price per metre of hedge
Orders of 100 m of hedge or more placed up to and including 30 November 2026 get 10% off.
| Length | Rhizomes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 50 m | 220 | €527.50 |
| 100 m | 440 | |
| 200 m | 880 | |
| 500 m | 2,200 |
The price includes VAT and is for the planting stock: we supply the rhizomes, and the buyer plants them. The delivery charge depends on the address and is stated in the offer.
- DeliveryIn spring, by our own vehicle. We collect the orders into rounds and confirm the delivery week with each order.
- PackagingThe rhizomes travel dormant, packed in special boxes.
- CountriesCroatia, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary and Italy.
- PaymentBy invoice, after we have confirmed the order.
- SeasonPlanting is in spring only. Orders for spring 2027 are open.
The hedge kit: questions and answers
How many rhizomes does my hedge need?
Four for every metre: two staggered rows with 50 cm between the plants. The kit adds 10% spare rhizomes, so a hedge of 100 m comes with 440.
How long is a typical hedge?
A hedge on three sides of a house plot of 700 to 1,300 m² is 90 to 125 m long, and one boundary of such a plot is 35 to 50 m. Around a country plot of 2,000 m² the hedge is about 180 m.
When is the hedge planted, and when do you deliver?
Planting is in spring only, from late March to May, once the soil has warmed to about 10 °C. We deliver in spring, in rounds, and confirm the week with each order.
In what form do the rhizomes arrive, and what do I do with them?
The rhizomes arrive dormant, packed in special boxes. Plant them within a week of delivery or keep them in a dark, cold place with high humidity. Soak the rhizomes in water before planting.
Does the price include VAT and delivery?
The price of €10.55 per metre of hedge includes VAT. The delivery charge depends on the address and is stated in the offer. We supply the rhizomes, and the buyer plants them.
Is the hedge a screen all year?
No. It is green from June to October and stands as dry canes through the winter. After the cut in late winter it is open until the new shoots reach head height in June.
Does giant miscanthus spread or seed itself?
The clone sets no viable seed, so it does not spread by seed. A clump grows to about 70 cm across at the base and stops where it meets its neighbours. Mow a strip along both sides once a year, and do not plant on a stream bank, because pieces of rhizome carried by water can take root.
How much care does the hedge need?
In the first two summers the strip is kept free of weeds, and it is watered if the spring is dry. From the third year the hedge needs one cut a year, in late winter, close to the ground. On most garden soils it needs no fertiliser.
How long does the hedge last?
We count on at least 15 years. Published sources give 15 to 30 years for a stand of giant miscanthus.
Can the hedge be kept lower than 2 m?
No. It grows to 3-4 m each summer and is not trimmed to a height. Where the rules allow only 2 m at the boundary, plant it further from the boundary or choose a hedge that can be trimmed.
What if some rhizomes do not come up?
Even with sound rhizomes planted on time, 5-15% do not establish. The 10% spare in the kit is there to fill those gaps in the first spring. The full guide is in the hedge article.
