Hakonechloa macra Mulled Wine - Japanese Forest Grass

Hakonechloa macra Mulled Wine forms a lush clump of cascading foliage, creating an interesting graphic effect and a real charm to the plant. The leaves of this grass, initially yellow, light green and emerald, gradually take on increasingly darker red shades until they become almost entirely burgundy by the end of the season. Stunning as groundcover, the Japanese grass is a very trendy plant that is easily grown in a pot and will find a special place in a semi-shaded corner of a patio.

Hakonechloa macra Mulled Wine is a recent horticultural selection from Knoll Gardens Ltd. (United Kingdom). It is a rhizomatous and stoloniferous grass belonging to the Poaceae family. Its wild ancestor is native to the mountains of Japan. This Mulled Wine variety forms a clump 40-45 cm (16-18in) tall and 60 cm (24in) wide, composed of very leafy culms, initially upright and then trailing. The overall appearance is reminiscent of a large cushion or a sort of wig. It has a rather fast growth rate, and the foliage is deciduous and absent in winter. The wide leaves turn a darker shade of red at the end of summer if the plant is exposed to a bit more sunlight. The flowering takes place in July-August. The flowers, arranged in small thin spikelets, do not offer any real interest but can be preserved for the winter.

Stunning in borders, Hakonechloa tolerates all exposures as long as the soil remains moist, for example on the edges of a pond. Whether in the ground or in pots, combine this beautiful Mulled Wine variety with hostas, ferns, bergenias, or colourful heucheras that appreciate the same growing conditions. It will thrive when used as a large groundcover in shaded parts of the garden, in a light woodland, against an east-facing wall, or to border a mass of bushes in humus-rich, moist soil, adding roundness and colour.