Japanese Forest Grass

Hakonechloa macro
An elegant and graceful grass native to Japan that can reach a height of 26 inches ( record is 3 feet ) with smooth, wiry, green culms. This grass forms slow spreading, rhizomatous clumps up to 3.5 or very rarely 6 feet across after many years.
The leaves are lance shape, glossy medium green and up to 12 x 0.6 inches in size.
The foliage often turns attractive deep orange during late autumn and
remains in dried form during the winter, providing interest.
The flowers and following seedpods are in loose terminal clusters.
Prefers partial to moderate shade on fertile, cool, moist, light, well drained soil but is generally soil tolerant. Hardy zones 5 to 8 ( 3 and 4 on sheltered sites with mulch and snow cover ). Deer generally do not eat Japanese Forest Grass. It is not prone to pests or diseasess.
Propagation is usually from division during early spring. Avoid planting during hot weather and water regularly for the first season to establish.

* photos taken on April 18 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


* photos taken on April 18 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on Nov 17 2012 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photo taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photos taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Jan 9 2020 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photo taken on Aug 3 2022 @ Howard Community College, Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 14 2022 in Columbia, MD

'Albo Striata'
A vigorous, rare form with leaves that striped with ivory white; otherwise identical to the species.

* photos taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on June 9 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 1 2022 in Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Apr 18 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 2 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 16 2024 in Columbia, MD

'Allgold'
Plant this stunning grass with pure golden foliage in drifts for amazing textural effects to brighten up a dark drab spot in the landscape. Foliage clumps reach up to 2 x 3 ( rarely over 1.5 ) feet with age. It is much more upright than 'Aureola' in habit.

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on May 3 2014 in Baltimore Co, MD

* photos taken on May 7 2014 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photo taken on June 1 2014 @ Maryland Horticulturalist Society garden tour, Ellicott City

* photos taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photo taken on July 15 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 25 2015 @ Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

* photo taken on July 26 2015 @ Niagara Parks Bot. Gardens, Niagara Falls, ON

* photo taken on Nov 19 2016 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photos taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

* photos taken on Oct 1 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Nov 13 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 23 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey PA

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photo taken on Sep 15 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 18 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 1 2022 in Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Nov 16 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 19 2023 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA

'Aureola'
Forming foliage clumps up to 2 x 3 ( reports of 3 ) feet with age, the foliage up to 8 inches in length is bright golden yellow with a few narrow green stripes. In autumn the foliage turns to stunning tones of pink and red.
An excellent choice to add oriental flavor next to a shaded patio or water feature. Slow to establish but well worth the wait.

* photo taken on April 11 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum

* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


* photo taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on annual Horticultural Society of Maryland Garden Tour

* photos taken on August 2 2010 in Bayfield, Ontario


* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore, PA


* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on Aug 2 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

* photo taken on Aug 18 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 7 2014 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photo taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photo taken on Sep 8 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 5 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 20 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 9 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

* photos taken on Jul 19 2017 @ Rideau Hall, Ottawa, ON

* photo taken on Oct 17 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Apr 21 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 21 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 25 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 18 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 14 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 30 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 11 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 13 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 21 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 3 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 5 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 26 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 24 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Apr 29 2022 in Elkridge, MD

'Beni Kaze'
Reaches up to 3 x 3 feet with bright green foliage that turns intense scarlet-red in autumn.

* photos taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey PA

* photo taken on July 26 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 11 2021 in Columbia, MD

'Fubuki'
Forms a slow growing clump up to 1 x 1.3 feet in 1 years, eventually to 1.2 x 2.2 feet in size.
The foliage is mid-green and very intensely striped white, sometimes with pinkish tint. The foliage turns to orange or bronze during autumn. The leaf blades are up to 5.5 x 0.3 inches in size.

* photo taken on July 5 2014 in Columbia, MD

'Mulled Wine'
Similar to 'Aureola' in appearance except the foliage on this new introduction develops stunning deep red autumn color. It can reach up to 2 feet in height.

'Nicolas'
The red tinged new growth in spring later turns to bright green however in autumn turns again to put on a fiery orange-red foliar display. The foliage is gracefully pendulous. The leaf blades are up to 4.5 x 0.3 inches in size. It grows at a moderate pace or faster than most cultivars.

* photo taken on May 14 2011 in Ellicott City, MD

* patent photo

'Stripe it Rich'
Vigorous, reaching up to 0.5 x 1.7 feet in 1 year, eventually to 2 x 3.2 feet.
The yellowish-green leaves, up to 8.5 x 1 inches, are boldly longitudinally striped white.

* patent photo

'Sunflare'
Vigorous, reaching up to 1.5 x 2 feet in 3 years, eventually slightly wider.
The intense golden-yellow foliage is highlighted with deep glowing red tips. During autumn, the foliage turns to a combination of orange and deep red. The leaf blades average 3.7 x 0.3 inches in size.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( possibly even 4 )

* patent photo

'Sunny Delight'
Similar to 'Aureola' but in reverse with the foliage being green and striped yellow.
It can reach up to 1.5 x 2 feet, possibly eventually wider after many years.

* photos taken on May 7 2014 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD