Hakonechloa macra

Hakone Grass Poaceae

There are ornamental grasses that stand up and make a statement, and then there is Hakonechloa macra, which prefers to lounge gracefully over the edge of a path and let everyone else do the shouting. Native to the wooded mountains of Japan, this exceptionally elegant grass forms gently cascading hummocks of fresh green, the narrow leaves all flowing in much the same direction to create a remarkably fluid effect. 

It is one of those plants that garden designers have quietly become rather dependent upon. Used beneath trees and shrubs, along paths and steps, beside water, or allowed to spill over walls and terraces, it provides movement and texture without becoming visually noisy. Its clean, architectural form works particularly well in contemporary and minimalist planting, while its Japanese origins make it an obvious companion for Acer, ferns, hostas and woodland plants. 

The flowers are hardly the point, although airy sprays appear in summer. The real performance comes in autumn, when the green foliage develops warm russet and red-brown tones before eventually disappearing for the winter. Give it a reasonably moist, fertile soil and anything from light shade to sun, and it is remarkably accommodating. It is slow to establish, but that is also part of its charm: this is a grass for designers who prefer refinement to instant gratification. 

Height: 30–50cm
Spread: 30–60cm
Flowering: June–August
Hardiness: H7

A superb choice for woodland planting, contemporary gardens, path edges, courtyards and anywhere that needs a little more movement without mayhem.