This clump-forming, warm season grass grows 5-6 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. Narrow leaves have creamy-white margins and midveins. Inflorescences are reddish and stalks reach 6-8 feet tall.
The cultivar 'Morning Light' is of Japanese origin. It was collected by the US National Arboretum in 1976 and introduced to North America. Named 'Morning Light' and first offered commercially by Kurt Bluemel in Maryland. Received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 2001. 'Morning Light' is a very popular cultivar of Miscanthus and is widely planted.