Ornamental Grasses for Shade - Hakonechloa
Don't Judge A Plant By Its Name
| The USDA hardiness zone rating of the various ornamental grasses |
Hakonechloa - hahk uh nehk loh'uh - the word does not fall trippingly off the tongue. In spite of the name, this most graceful member of the
Graminea family deserves a special place in every shady garden from USDA zones 5 (with mulching of the crowns) to 9.
The Cultivars
Hakonechloa macra 'Albo-aurea' is the one I've got. It's taken nearly nine years for it to grow into the clump shown in the photograph from a typical four inch pot purchased mailorder. All the variegated forms are less vigorous in growth than the species. The leaves are set alternately on red-tinted stems; a warm golden-yellow with very little green appearing as a fine stripe. Sometimes the leaves are stained pink or bronze, more usual where sun hits them directly. They will brown if they get too much sun. This one is slow to reappear in spring, so don't become alarmed if you see no sign of life until early May.
A totally awesome photograph probably taken with a electron microscope. Labeled only 'pennis80.gif', I think this looks like a cross section of a blade of grass. It's slow loading, but be patient -- you don't want to miss this!
Latest Articles