Common Name: Japanese forest grass
Type: Ornamental grass
Family: Poaceae
Zone: 5 to 9
Height: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: July to August
Bloom Description: Yellow-green
Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Leaf: Colorful, Good Fall
Tolerate: Deer, Black Walnut, Air Pollution
Culture
Best grown in humusy, consistently moist, well-drained soils in part shade. Tolerates close to full shade, particularly in the hot summer climates of the deep South. Best growth occurs in climates with cool summer temperatures. Hardy in Zones 5-9. Plant foliage will burn in full sun locations and lose color intensity (particularly on variegated leaf cultivars) in full shade. Clumps spread by rhizomes, but are not considered to be invasive. Mulch in winter. Trim foliage to the ground in late winter to early spring before the new shoots emerge. Tolerant of urban growing conditions including air pollution. Propagation is easiest by division. Species plants (not cultivars thereof) may be grown by seed.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Hakonechloa macra, commonly called Japanese forest grass or Hakone grass, is a rhizomatous, shade-loving, deciduous perennial grass that is native both to moist mountain areas including wet rocky cliffs and to moist woodland areas in central Japan, including areas around Mt. Hakone from which both its genus name and common name are derived. Other common names include forest grass and Japanese forest grass. Gracefully arching, linear-lanceolate, bright green leaves (to 10" long and 3/8" wide) form dense, spreading, cascading mounds to 12-18" tall and to 24" wide. Leaves have a papery texture resembling the leaves of some types of bamboo.
Genus name comes from the Japanese place named Hakone and the Greek word chloa meaning a grass.
Specific epithet means large.
'Fubuki' (means snowstorm in Japanese) is a variegated cultivar that features green and white striped leaves. It typically grows to 14" tall and will spread over time to 18" wide. Leaves acquire attractive orange to bronze tones in fall before dying to the ground in winter. Yellow-green flowers bloom in loose, nodding panicles (to 6" long) in mid- to late summer. Flowers have a delicate beauty on close inspection, but are not particularly showy from a distance. 'Fubuki' was discovered and introduced by Briggs Nursery in the State of Washington. Briggs applied for a U.S. trademark on the name Fubuki in November of 2009, but abandoned that application in January of 2011. U.S. Plant Patent PP21,757 was issued on March 1, 2011 under the name of Hakonechloa macra 'Fubuki'. May be found sold under the trade name of BRIFORM.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Root heaving can be a problem in winter. Leaves may scorch in hot summers, particularly when consistent moisture is not maintained. Deer tend to avoid this plant.
Uses
Excellent spreading ornamental grass for shady locations. Shade groundcover or accent for woodland gardens. Shaded areas of mixed borders. Along paths and walks. Rock gardens. Slopes. Sprawl over rocks. Containers.