Japanese Forest Grass Sunflare

A strikingly coloured grass, Hakonechloa macra Sunflare is a deciduous, slow-growing, non-invasive grass, lovely planted in drifts but also very good as a specimen in a pot. It has a graceful, mounded, arching habit, with cascading leaves, which emerge a beautiful chartreuse-yellow in partial shade, golden-yellow in full sun, but as the plant slowly matures the leaves develop random maroon-crimson markings. As the season progresses, the colours become richer, and in autumn this grass turns burnt orange and burgundy. From August to September, Japanese forest grass Sunflare may develop green spikelets (flowers), which turn reddish-brown, but this is unusual – think of it as a foliage plant. Plant with plenty of compost or manure, and mulch lightly in spring, after cutting back any remaining foliage before new growth begins.

Site: Sheltered, cool site
Soil: Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil
Position: Best in partial shade; tolerates full sun
Season of interest: Spring to autumn
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 18’ (45cm) Spread: 18” (45cm)