There just aren't any good ornamental grasses for shady gardens, right? Wrong. Hakonechloa macra is a great one.
In fact, you could argue that almost no plant lights up a shady, wooded area as well as some of the variegated, yellow-leaved forms of Japanese forest grass.
This plant grows 1-1 1/2 feet tall and has an arching form. It's hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6 and prefers moist, well-drained soils. They produce the brightest foliage in partial or dappled shade, but will also grow in full shade. They tend to burn in full sun, but can withstand more sun in areas with mild summers.
This is one plant where you'll rarely find the straight species (with green leaves). The yellow-leaved varieties, which can be found under many names, run the show.
'Aureola' is the most common, and said to have among the brightest foliage. You can also find plants named 'Albo-aurea' and 'Albo-striata.'
Great find
Deidre Finley, owner of Big Dipper Farm in Black Diamond,
"It's a great addition to the shade garden," she said. "I can't imagine how it can get any better than that, but I'm curious to see the new 'All Gold' from Terra Nova."
Terra Nova Nurseries in
Grown from plugs
Hakonechloa is propagated from division, but Big Dipper Farm finds it easier to buy in 72-cell plugs from outside sources, said production manager Jim Locke. These are transplanted into squat 6-inch pots.
"We're going to more squat 6-inch pots. It saves soil, they're not as heavy and many plants, including Hakonechloa, seem happier in them," he said.
If conditions are right, plugs will root out in the 6-inch squat pot in a month to five weeks. Nine to 12 weeks after transplant the tops fill out and plants become salable.
"They tend to root out before they start to put on much top growth," Locke said.
He predicts that 6-inch plants could be transplanted into gallon pots and finished in another nine to 12 weeks.
But his biggest advice is to buy in plugs in late summer or fall rather than spring. The ones planted later in the year have more vigor and grow better the following season.
Big Dipper Farm overwinters Hakonechloa in unheated cold frames. They're cut back late (around the end of February) which Locke feels provides some additional winter protection.
He also warned not to try to force them too early in spring or resulting growth will be leggy and unattractive.
For more: Big Dipper Farm, 26130 S.E. Green Valley Road, Black Diamond, WA 98010; (360) 886-8133; garden@bigdipperfarm.com; www.bigdipperfarm.com. Terra Nova Nurseries Inc.,
{sidebar id=28}
Specifics
Name: Hakonechloa macra
Common names: Japanese forest grass, Hakone grass.
Description: Mounding grass with an arching form that reaches 1-1 1/2 feet high. The variegated selections with yellow leaves are most common.
Uses: Great in shady locations and woodland gardens. Provide moist, well-drained soils.
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zone 6.
Propagation: Division.
- Todd Davis