Garden

[spot555]

Hi!

A while back I saw photos of your Japanese Forest Grass, & absolutely loved it. Last Spring I bought a plant....grew fast & was really healthy. 

I live in the Seattle area. My question is, does this die back in the Fall & Winter like most grasses do? We had freezing weather early this year, & that's when the color went from green to gold (as in "kind of dead", lol).

I thought this grass was more of an evergreen, but maybe not. I have it in a planter on my deck year round. It's fine if it does die back....I just want to make sure it didn't die. Of course I'll know for sure in the Spring.  

Anyway, it's such a stunner & is so beautiful- love it!  

[PINKdogWOOD]

@spot555  This is a really good looking grass. We have a few grasses here & there in our yard too, all sizes. I just google chkd the one you're asking about, like many of these grasses from what I read you should be fine. They will die back and return in the spring. I'm in Ohio and this is how our grasses are here. Froyour description it sounds like your's will do the normal die back and return beautifully in the spring. Grasses are really nice, very low maintenance. 

Ms Lilysmom & I chat oft here about our gardens, I am quite sure she'll get with you on this.

[spot555]

PINKDOGWOOD-  

Thanks for your response. I love grasses, but this one is extra-special. You should see it softly blowing in the breeze. It's fine leaves are layered & wispy....it's really handsome. 

Lilysmom has some huge plants, & I wanted one of my own!

[butterfly123]

Japanese forest grass

Japanese forest grass is a low-growing grass that can be planted close together to form a ground cover.  There are some interesting cultivars that provide color in the landscape.

Botanical name:

Hakonechloa macra

All Common Names:

Japanese forest grass, hakone grass, hakonechloa grass

Family (English):

Grass

Family (Botanic):

Poaceae

Tree or Plant Type:

• Grass,
• Ground cover,
• Perennial

Native Locale:

• Non-native

Landscape Uses:

• Container,
• Foundation,
• Massing,
• Mixed border,
• Patio/sidewalk

Size Range:

• Medium plant (12-24 inches)

Light Exposure:

• Partial sun/shade (4-6 hrs light daily)

Hardiness Zones:

• Zone 5 (Chicago),
• Zone 6,
• Zone 7,
• Zone 8,
• Zone 9

Soil Preference:

• Moist, well-drained soil

Season of Interest:

• Early winter,
• Mid winter,
• Late winter,
• Late spring,
• Early summer,
• Mid summer,
• Late summer,
• Early fall,
• Mid fall,
• Late fall

Flower Color & Fragrance:

• Other

Shape or Form:

• Arching,
• Creeping

More Information:

Size and Form

Japanese forest grass is relatively low-growing (1 to 2 feet tall), with arching leaves that provide a sweeping appearance as though the plants were flowing.  The plant will spread by rhizomes, but very slowly. It can be used as a ground cover for this reason.

Plant Care

Best growth is in a cool, partly shaded site.  Soil should be moist, but also well-drained.

This is a warm season grass, so its most active growth occurs in summer.  It will remain standing in winter and can act as winter interest
Since this grass remains attractive through winter, it should not be cut back until early spring, before new growth begins.  At that time, it can be cut down to the ground.

Disease, pests, and problems

No serious pest problems.

Native geographic location and habitat

Native to Japan.  Found in cool mountain habitats.

Leaf description

Leaves are 3 to 6 inches long and 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide.  Leaves of the species are bright green and have a bamboo-like appearance.  There are cultivars with variegated foliage.  Leaves will dry to brown for winter.

Flower description

The tiny flowers are held on light, airy clusters that are not very showy.  Flowering time is late summer

Fruit description

The small fruit (caryopsis or grains) form along the open clusters that held the flowers.

[spot555]

Thanks Butterfly. 

I read all it's specs before I bought it. That's why I thought it MAY be an evergreen. But, by "winter interest", it may mean golden dead-ish leaves, lol. Mine grew a lot it's first year, & I want it to get to that fat stage like your beautiful photo shows. 

[Lilysmom]

@spot555, it is gorgeous isn’t it?  Yes, it does die back in the winter.  I never cut mine for cleanup until the Spring.  It would be gorgeous in a planter.  If I did that here, I would have to plant it in the fall because I think it would die in winter.  You are warmer than me I think.  I am in zone 5(b) bordering on 6 in micro climates.  

I gave up on the tall grasses.  Although I love their beautiful sway in the wind, they are very messy over winter and I was picking them out of all my shrubs all summer.  Also, as they get older, they are awful to cut back.

Did you get All Gold or variegated?

 LM

[spot555]

Lilysmom. 

I bought the "All Gold", which for me was a greenish-gold.  Your plants/photos were spectacular (of course!), so I just had to get one. 

I'm in zone 7, & the plant did turn after a freeze, so that's good to know. I'll trim back in Spring like I did with my other grasses. This one doesn't look as bad as my other grasses....just looks golden-deadish, as opposed to tan/straw. 

I read reviews that said the 1st year was a slow growth, but mine grew A LOT. It isn't very layered or fat yet, but hopefully it will be.

Thanks for your response. I so enjoy looking at your photos & your beautiful landscape. 

[Lilysmom]

@spot555, here is what mine look like today.  We are having a bit of a thaw today.

In the Spring, cut it back and give it some fertilizer.  I just use miracle grow and they really respond to it.  It will be bushy before you know.  I divided my largest one, which was getting too big, several times.  Such a burst of color for a shady spot.  LM

[spot555]

Thanks for the photos. Your area even looks good with dead-ish plants, lol. Mine isn't to that point yet, but after a few more hard frosts it will. 

One more question......

Since it's in a planter, on a covered deck, do I just water it a little when it's dry? While it's growing, I know it likes even moisture, but what about now?

[JustJazzmom]

I would water it monthly if in a planter.

Mine are in the ground next to a paver walkway. My variety is ‘Naomi’ & the leaves in the cooler fall weather turn a light burgundy before going to that golden brown color for winter. 

Some of my Hakones have rabbit fencing around them as a certain rabbit liked to nibble on the leaves, so just a heads up. ‘Naomi’ for me is working as a border small space plant. I have it companioned with Tricyrtis hirta (a clumping variety) called ‘Tojen’. Tricyrtis typically are one of the last perennials to bloom in late summer (August into October). Both plants — Hakone & Tricyrtis tolerate shade with sun. I notice the ones that get more sun throughout the day are larger than those with more shade.

The Hakone is next to a tiny Tricyrtis followed by a Lady fern called ‘Dre’s Dagger’ on the corner. If you look to the far right I added a few more of them along the straight path near the back garage door as seen in this photo below: The Tricyrtis were tiny (in between the Hakones) & transplanted from coir pots from Bluestone Perennials. You can plant coir directly into the ground, but I lost a Hakone because I did that— it became root bound. One of my original Tricyrtis you can see it’s size — about 2’ high with those white/purple flowers. The tree in the upper left corner is my ‘Jane’ magnolia.