Hakonechloa macra
Japanese forest grass
Common names: Japanese hill grass, Hakone grass
At a glance
- Light
- Partial shade
- Pot size
- from 10 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- Aug–Sep
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −25 °C
- Water need
- Medium
Photo: Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man). Location credit to the Ch… · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Japanese forest grass, botanically Hakonechloa macra, grows in the damp mountain forests and on wet rock faces of the mountains of central Japan. The name refers to the Hakone mountains. The narrow, bamboo-like leaves hang in arching curves and form soft mounds reminiscent of a small waterfall. The grass grows 30 to 50 cm tall. The most popular cultivar is 'Aureola', with golden-yellow leaves striped green, which brightens a partly shaded spot. In late summer, delicate greenish-yellow panicles appear, and in autumn the foliage turns yellow to reddish before it dies back. It is planted under woody plants, along the edge of a shade bed, with hostas and ferns, or in a container on a terrace or balcony. It grows slowly at first but over the years becomes a dense, long-lived clump.
Care instructions
Plant Japanese forest grass in spring or September in a partly shaded spot with humus-rich, fresh soil. Morning sun and the light under open tree canopies suit it well, while harsh midday sun scorches the leaves. Plant it at the same depth it had in its pot. Water regularly so the soil stays evenly moist, but never waterlogged. In a container, check the soil daily in summer by pressing a finger into it to see whether it is still moist. In late winter, before new growth emerges, cut the old leaves back to just above the ground. Common mistakes include a spot that is too sunny or too dry, waterlogging in the pot, and impatience, since the grass grows cautiously in its first years. Divide it only when the center of the clump declines.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringAug–Sep
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
humus-rich, well-drained, loamy, moist
Hakone grass grows best in humus-rich, evenly fresh soil that drains excess water well. Loamy garden soil with leaf compost suits it ideally; improve sandy soil with plenty of compost so that it holds moisture. The grass does not tolerate waterlogging, nor very heavy, compacted or bone-dry soils. The pH may range from slightly acidic to neutral, and chalky soil is also fine as long as it stays humus-rich and fresh.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Apr–Jul
In the bed, a layer of ripe compost in April, spread loosely around the clump, is enough. On sandy soil you may also work in horn shavings. In a container, from May to July give liquid fertiliser for flowering plants in the water about every four weeks. From August, do not feed any more, so that the plant can settle into dormancy.
Overwintering
Hakone grass is hardy and dies back in autumn. The foliage then turns yellow to reddish and later straw brown. Leave the old leaves standing over winter, as they protect the base of the plant, and cut them off just above the ground only in late winter. In a container, protect the root ball: stand the pot on feet against a sheltered house wall, wrap it in fleece or hessian and water sparingly on frost-free days so that the soil does not dry out completely.
Propagation
Methods
- Division
Propagate Hakone grass by division, best in spring as soon as the first shoots appear. Dig the clump out with a spade, divide it into strong pieces with several shoots and replant them straight away in humus-rich soil. Keep them evenly moist for the first few weeks. Expect the grass to grow cautiously for a while afterwards: it starts slowly and becomes very long-lived over the years. Propagate the striped and yellow-variegated varieties by division only, as that is the only way they stay true to variety.
For your garden
Grow Japanese forest grass yourself
Gartenkern tells you when frost is coming, when to sow and when to harvest, for your location.
Free, no time limit
Notes from real gardens
What other gardeners have written down about this variety, anonymous and voluntary.
No notes shared yet. Will you be the first to write one down?