This low - sustenance locoweed make a beautiful ground cover in shady gardens .
Prized for its graciously arch foliage , Hakone grass ( Hakonechloa macra)is a tough , low - maintenanceornamental grassthat loves moist , shady conditions . Also known as Japanese forest Mary Jane , this plant life has leaves that find papery , reminiscent of some bamboo species . Its genus name and plebeian name come from the word " Hakone , " a stack in Japan ; in the wild , this grass is found in the moist good deal and timber areas of central Japan .
Hakone pasturage forms dense pitcher of slender leave that startle solid green , solid golden , or variegate , and then change to coppery orange as fall ’s nerveless conditions amount into play . The mound clod of grassy leaves gradually increase in size of it . It ’s wearisome to re-emerge in the bound , so do n’t care if it lags behind other plant inbreaking quiescence .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Here ’s our guide on how to grow this versatile grass .
Where to Plant Hakone Grass
Pick the planting localization grant to the type of Hakone grass you choose . Varieties with solid green foliage can support sun , whereas varieties with golden and variegated farewell ( which are the most pop one ) call for fond specter . All type should be planted in evenly moist soil with a slightly acidulous to achromatic pH.
With its cascading mound of folio and variety of chromaticity , Hakone Mary Jane adds graceful grain and shining color to any garden . you’re able to plant it as an accent or a groundcover , around trees , in container , along paths , or aggroup with fellow traveller plants . Provide a counterpoint to the elegant lines of the grass with plants that display larger foliage , such as Funka . Hakone cultivars with self-coloured golden folio or golden streaked with unripe render an specially striking backdrop toplants with blue prime .
How and When to Plant Hakone Grass
The honorable metre to plant is in the springtime , so the grass has the intact growing season to get show . Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and with a profoundness a petty less than the height of the ancestor ball . Place the grass in the muddle and backfill the hole with land . weewee it well and keep it equally moist until the eatage is establish .
Space plants 12 to 24 inches apart , calculate on the fledged sizing of the variety .
Hakone Grass Care Tips
Light
Hakone smoke needs fond shade . In too much Dominicus , some Hakone pasturage , especially the types with vary and golden foliage , are susceptible to scorching .
Soil and Water
The grime should be evenly moist , deep in constituent matter , well - drained , and with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 .
Water in the absence of pelting to keep the soil moist , and mulch around the plant to preserve soil moisture .
Temperature and Humidity
Hakone green goddess is winter - hardy down to Zone 5 . Unlike other ornamental grasses , the foliage go bad back , so it does not render winter pastime . It do good from a thick layer of mulch to protect the roots .
The pasturage does well in humid conditions but does not like extreme dry heat .
Fertilizer
Other than a level of compost , this plant necessitate no other fertilizer if planted in rich , fat soil . At the most , you could employ a balanced irksome - expiration plant food once in the spring when the young growth commence .
Pruning
The eatage does not ask pruning , other than cut the dead foliage back to ground story in late winter or early outflow before the raw emergence startle .
Potting and Repotting Hakone Grass
Because of its small size of it and slow growth , Hakone supergrass does well in containers . Select a pot with large drainage holes that ’s at least 2 inches larger in diameter than the nursery pot . Fill it with a combination of well - drain pot filth and compost .
Despite the winter - validity of Hakone grass , in a potentiometer , its roots are exposed and dependent to block - and - melt cycles . While the grass should definitely rest out of doors during the winter , the roots need protection . you may bury the mickle into the ground , insulate it with a deep level of mulch , or winterise it by placing it in a 2d , larger pot to make a planting silo .
Pests and Problems
This forage is blissfully unbothered by serious louse or disease problems . cervid do n’t like it either .
How to Propagate Hakone Grass
Hakone grass can be broadcast by division of the rhizomes in the spring , just as the unexampled growth starts . Dig up the total flora and separate the root it into sections . check that each plane section has sign of Modern growth . Discard any dead pieces . Replant the sections in a newfangled emplacement at the same depth as the original grass .
Types of Hakone Grass
Golden Japanese Forest Grass
Hakonechloa macra’Aureola ' is a unretentive cultivar ( 12 to 18 inches at maturity ) that lighten lightly shaded place in the garden . Its endearing golden - yellow leaves are unclothe with dark-green and arch gracefully toward the light . Zone 5 - 9
‘All Gold’ Japanese Forest Grass
Make a bold command with thisHakonechloa macravariety . It grow 9 to 14 in tall and features bright gold - xanthous foliation that holds its color throughout the growing season . Zone 5 - 9
White Striped Hakone Grass
Hakonechloa macra’Albostriata ' is dour green with white stripes of varying heaviness . This cultivar tolerate sunlight better than varieties with gold leaf . It also grows quicker and progress to a fledged height of 3 foot . Zone 5 - 9
Hakone Grass Companion Plants
Hosta
Hostahas garner its fleck in the hearts of gardeners — it ’s among the easiest plants to get , as long as you have some shade and ample rainfall . Hostas deviate from tiny plants desirable for trough or rock gardens to massive 4 - foot clumps with pith - shaped leave almost 2 ft retentive that can be puckered , wavy - cutting , white or green variegated , naughty - greyish , chartreuse , emerald - edged — the variations are virtually endless .
Holly Fern
For that shady patch , you ca n’t go wrong withholly fern . Their evergreen fronds always look good , and they mix well with other refinement fan , without taking over . They can be plant close and massed as a groundcover , or used as accent plants where the soil is productive and well - drained .
Columbine
Perfect for cottage and woodland gardens , previous - fashioned columbinesare available in almost all color of the rainbow . Intricate little flowers , they are most commonly a combination of red , peach , and yellow but also blues , White , thoroughgoing yellow , and garden pink ; they look almost like folded paper lanterns . Columbine flourish in sun or fond tad in moist , well - drained dirt . plant tend to be short - lived but self - germ readily , often creating natural hybrids with other nearby aquilegia .
Frequently Asked Questions
Even though it is a crawler , spreading by belowground rhizomes , it is not invasive .
Potentially yes , but the seminal fluid are not widely usable . seed from one of the pop cultivar wo n’t bring forth a grass that is rightful to the parent .
Yes , the grass interchange color , free-base on the time of year and the amount of sun it get . In partial nuance , Hakone grass turns brilliant jaundiced amber ; in full shade , you ’ll get a less vibrant lime green . In full sun , the leafage turns creamy white . The leafage can burn in full Sunday and hot climates .
Credit: John Granen
Hakone forage has an informal look that works well as garden edging , sprawl over rocks , in container , or as an underplanting of rose and shrub .
Updated by Nadia Hassani
“ Hakonechloa macra . ”Missouri Botanical Garden .
Credit: Bob Stefko
“ Hakonechloa macra . ”North Carolina State Extension .
“ Hakonechloa macra . ”Royal Horticultural Society .
Credit: Julie Maris Semarco
Credit: Andre Baranowski
Credit: Mike Jensen
