Let’s get the important stuff about Hakonechloa out of the way first. You pronounce it Ha-ckon-ee-kl-oh-ah – with the emphasis on the ee. So it sounds like “hackon-ee-kloa. Got it? 🙂
How To Grow
- This wonderful grass plant thrives in the part shade to shade garden although it is equally happy in full sun.
- The color is best in part shade.
- What it does require is a fertile soil that holds moisture during the summer but not the winter. In other words, a soil high in organic matter is good but not a clay soil.
Hardiness
Hardy to -15 to -20 C (-5F) or USDA zone 4 marginally.
Propagation
By division in the early spring.
In theory, you can grow it from seed but you’re not likely to find it setting any unless you’re in a warm climate.
Tips For Designing With Hakonechloa
- This plant is simply spectacular when planted in large clumps of three or more plants. Each plant will expand slowly. It is not invasive at all in my USDA 4/5 garden.
- The leaves on the gold forms tend to hold their colour well into the fall while the green species have a red-flushed fall colour that is also attractive for a long time.
- It does brighten up a shady garden but it is not a plant for dry shade.
Shopping Resources for This Page
Hakonechloa plants can be found here from several suppliers
Ornamental grass seed and plants can be found here
why do you say HACK ..in the pronounce ..isnt it Japanese? “HA KON A KLOA ” not Hack…?
That’s the way I was told to pronounce it by a major producer. And no idea how the Japanese pronounce it. I’m too busy growing these plants rather than pronouncing them. 😉 Horticultural Latin is a language all its own that may/may not follow the grammar and pronunciation rules of regular Latin and any other language. As long as you understood what plant I was talking about – we’re all good.