Species Japanese forest grass
lime-yellow, narrow, spear-like leaves with green strips

Japanese forest grass

Hakonechloa macra 'Nicolas'

Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Nicolas') is simply amazing! Unique cascading leaves in a bright chartreuse color add a bold statement to any garden thanks to their arching stems. The delicate foliage forms a mounding habit with irregular margins and a delicate texture that is neither delicate nor overly bold. It is extremely easy to grow, requires little maintenance and flourishes in partial to full shade. Best of all, it is a low-maintenance groundcover perennial that will brighten any shaded area in the garden. Its vibrant color stands out against the subtle colors of its natural habitat and will captivate anyone who views it.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 9

Flowers:

Yellow-green Flowers

Sun:

part shade,part sun/part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,yellow

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Moderate

watering

Japanese forest grass will thrive with regular watering. Water the plant deeply and infrequently, allowing the top 5-8cms of soil to dry out before watering again. When you do water, saturate the soil completely and discard any excess water that accumulates in the drip tray or saucer under the pot. During summer months, the plant should be watered every 7-10 days, and during the winter, every 10-14 days. During prolonged hot and dry spells, water more often if needed.

sunlight

Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Nicolas') does best in partial shade or morning sun with afternoon shade or bright indirect light. It needs at least 3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily, preferably in the morning. When grown in areas that receive more intense direct sunlight, plants may require shade cloth to protect against scorching. Too much sunlight may cause foliage to yellow and freckle, and too little may cause thin foliage.

pruning

Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Nicolas') should generally be pruned twice a year - once in the spring, and again in autumn. Pruning in spring should take place when new growth appears and should include removing any dead foliage and thinning out the grass to ensure adequate airflow throughout the plant. In autumn, pruning should be done to cut the grass back to about 8 inches in height. This will help encourage healthy, fresh growth the following year.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Japanese forest grass typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Japanese forest grass typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map