Perennial of the Year 2009
Posted by Sarah on July 27th 2009 in blog
Perennial of the Week: Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa)
Although Japanese Forest grass, or Hakonechloa, received the Perennial of the Year award this year I still insist that it is the most underrated perennial in the Minnesota landscape. Simply put – anyone with a shade garden needs some Hakonechloa – essentially the only perennial grass that can tolerant shade, and fortunately one with the most striking foliage color.
Native to the mountain regions of Honshu Island, Japan, Hakonechloa comes to Minnesota ready to add texture to our shade gardens. My favorite feature of the Japanese Forest Grass is that can add movement to a normally stolid shade garden on a windy day. The bold yellow of the foliage also provides a perfect contrast with many shade garden mainstays – especially blue leafed hostas and Cimicifuga (bugbane). Hakonechloa is also excellent for edging retaining walls as it cascades over the wall and looks especially stunning contrasting grey stone.
I will admit that I stole this idea from a arboretum in Wisconsin but the idea stuck with me so I will share it – use Hakonechloa in pots! Simply plant a medium to large sized blue hosta in the pot with several Hakonechloa around the base of the plant. This creates the uniquely stunning effect of the Hakonechloa growing out from under the hosta and the color contrast is simply spectacular. Since the resulting plant is a foliage pot it will maintain its beauty all season and be a constant conversation piece.
2009 Perennial of the Year – Hakonechloa! A must have!
