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Japanese Forest Grass
Hakonechloa macra
Japanese Forest Grass is grown for its foliage rather than flowers, giving the garden structure and color all season long.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Japanese Forest Grass
Plant it in part shade. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 5–9. Expect it to reach about 1.3 ft tall and 2 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 3 years.
When to plant Japanese Forest Grass
Plant Japanese Forest Grass in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 5 to 9 range, spring means March to May and fall means September or October.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 7 in March.
Comes in 3 varieties
Same plant, same care - pick the variety you are growing.
Good to know about Japanese Forest Grass
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
Unusual among ornamental grasses in wanting shade, not sun: one of the few that thrives in a shady spot, where most other grasses need full sun and flop. per NC State
Warm end is heat-limited
Rated to zone 9 on paper, but it struggles in hot, humid southern US summers (zones 8 to 9). The warm limit is heat, not winter cold. per NC State and Missouri Botanical
Greens up late in spring
A warm-season grass, so it is slow to reappear; a bare crown in early spring is normal, not winter loss. It dies back fully with no winter interest. per Wisconsin
Slow clump, not invasive
It forms a tight, slow-growing clump that spreads only slowly by short rhizomes and does not run; it is not considered invasive and rarely needs dividing. per NC State
Non-toxic to pets
Generally regarded as non-toxic: it is absent from the ASPCA list of plants toxic to cats, and NC State flags no poison risk to people or pets. per ASPCA and NC State
A cascading shade edger
Its arching mound cascades over a rim, rock, or slope like flowing water, making it a fine path or bed edger, groundcover, and container plant. per Wisconsin
What pairs well with Japanese Forest Grass
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Wild Ginger
Takes part shade to full shade and moderate water; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border.
Beautyberry
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; taller at 4.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Windflower
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border.
All 8 companion pairings for Japanese Forest Grass →
Try Japanese Forest Grass with its top companions in a garden →
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