Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with plenty of compost to help it hold moisture well.
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Position
Partial shade.
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Frost tolerant
Established plants of hakone grass are winter hardy to -20°F (-29°C).
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Feeding
None needed when plants are grown in the ground. In containers, feed hakone grass monthly during the summer with a liquid organic fertilizer.
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Companions
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Spacing
Single Plants: 1' 11" (60cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 1' 11" (60cm) with 1' 11" (60cm) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Hakone grass does not breed true from seed, but vegetatively propagated plants of distinctive cultivars retain the leaf colors of the parents. Set out container-grown plants from spring to early summer, water well, and follow up with an organic mulch to help retain soil moisture. Hakone grass rarely needs dividing. To increase your supply, dig plantlets from the outside of the clump in spring and transplant them to containers or new locations.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Native to central Japan, hakone grass is an ideal texture plant for shade, with a cascading, windswept form and leaf colors that change with the season. It is often combined with hostas. Easily grown in containers or beds, hakone grass asks only for consistent moisture and protection from baking sun. The plants slowly form clumps, but do not spread or shed significant numbers of seeds. Hakone grass produces insignificant little flowers in summer, but this is basically a foliage plant. In cold winters areas, leave the dead foliage intact until early spring to shelter the plants from harsh weather. In early spring, mow or clip off old growth to make way for new leaves.
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Harvesting
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Troubleshooting
Too much sun can cause hakone leaves to show scalded spots, a problem most likely with light-leafed varieties. Drought also can severely stress the plants. Hakone grass is seldom bothered by pests or diseases.
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