Hakonechloa macra

RHS Plant Profile
Japanese forest grass

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Hakonechloa macra?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Japanese forest grass visionspictures.com
Japanese forest grass visionspictures.com
Award of Garden Merit
Grass Like
Thank you - your purchase supports our charity work Buy this from RHS Plants Shop
Buy online from £19.99Buy this from Plant Nurseries
51 Suppliers

A perennial grass producing mounds of bright green leaves topped by airy sprays of green flowers in mid- to late summer. The leaves develop red-brown tints in autumn and persist into winter

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Poaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Tufted
Genus
Hakonechloa is a deciduous perennial grass forming a compact tuft of arching stems bearing linear leaves, with arching flower panicles in late summer and autumn
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Japan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in most moist, humus-rich, well-drained fertile soils in sun or shade

Propagation

Propagate by division in mid-spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Cut back old, flowered stems and dead foliage at the base in late winter

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free