Hakone Grass

Appearance

''Hakonechloa macra'' is a small, mostly shade-loving, clump-forming bunchgrass, slowly spreading in circumference. The stalks cascade in a graceful rounded fountain shape somewhat reminiscent of ''Pennisetum'' but with the actual leaves resembling ''Chasmanthium''. The species tends to be between 45 cm and 60 cm in height.

The leaves are thin and papery and resemble many forms of bamboo. They are very flexible and have a distinctive rustling sound when the wind blows that adds to their appeal. The foliage rises from the roots on thin wiry stalks. The leaf blades are green but many color variations exist. The papery texture keeps the foliage cool to the touch and often the surface is slightly puckered or rippled.

The flowers bloom in midsummer from leaf nodes near the ends of the stalks. The flowers are light purple fading to tan then dropping off over the course of several weeks.

Naming

''Hakonechloa'': Derived from Japanese and Greek, meaning ‘Hakone grass’. Named for the Hakone hot springs region near Mount Hakone in Honshu, Japan.
''Macra'': Derived from Greek, meaning ‘big’, ‘large, ‘long’, ‘deep’, ‘tall’, or ‘far’.