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Japanese Forest Grass

Hakonechloa macra (hah-koh-no-KLO-uh MAK-ruh)

Family: Poaceae Unknown Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

A showy ornamental grass with striking stripes on its leaves. Plant in organically rich, well-drained moist soils in the partial shade. In the hot climate of the south it tolerates almost full shade. Propagate it by division. It is resistant to damage by deer, air pollution and can be planted near black walnut trees. Plant in mixed borders, woodland, or rock gardens. It performs well in containers and looks great planted along pathways, or spilling over rock walls. More information on Hakonechloa macra .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 37 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Hakonechloa macra

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges; Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Dense; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; White
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Variegated leaves with white stripes.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Panicle
Flower detail
Yellow-green panicles not very showy from a distance but beautiful up close.
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Naturalized Area; Rock Wall; Slope/Bank; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Rock Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border
Garden tags
#air pollution tolerant #low maintenance #naturalized area #interesting leaves #colorful leaves #deer resistant #slopes #ornamental grass #heavy shade tolerant #black walnut toxicity tolerant #container plant #garden walls #woodland #walkway
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Black Walnut; Deer; Heavy Shade; Insect Pests; Pollution
Propagation
Division; Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.