Bamboo grassis a perennial ornamental grass originating in Japan. It is one of the few grasses suitable for growing in shade.Bamboo grass in the gardenworks as a ground cover and looks great in numerous color combinations. See what are therequirements for bamboo grassand learn about the most interestingvarieties of bamboo grass , tested in the Polish climate.
Bamboo grass 'Aureola'
Fig. depositphotos.com
Bamboo grass - description and interesting varieties
Bamboo grass(Hakonechloa macra), also known asslender hakonechloa , is a low (approx. 1 m high) ornamental grass, which grows naturally in the mountain forests of Japan. It is a grass with long, cascading, overhangingbamboo-like leavesplaced on thin and long stems.Bamboo grass forms a compact, dense clumpwith an irregular, dense shape. In autumn, small, scattered and drooping panicles develop between the leaves.
Bamboo grass varieties are especially sought afterwith discolored leaves:
Bamboo grass 'All Gold'- with light green leaves which take on a lemon yellow color in well-lit stands.
'Naomi' bamboo grass- with light green leaves with longitudinal yellow and cream stripes that turn into warm shades of red and pink in autumn.
Bamboo grass 'Aureola'- its leaves are green with numerous, long, intense yellow stripes. In autumn, however, they turn pink, red, brown and yellow.
Bamboo grass 'All Gold'
Fig. © Agnieszka Lach
Bamboo grass 'Samurai'- the leaves of the variety are light green with creamy white stripes. They turn brown in autumn.
'Beni Kaze' bamboo grass- with long, juicy green leaves, which with the onset of the first frosts change to an intense red and orange color. This variety is additionally distinguished by a beautiful, laid-back habit.
Bamboo grass - requirements and cultivation in the garden
Bamboo grass prefers slightly shaded and moist places.It grows well over a pond, a stream and under the canopy of trees and shrubs.It can also be grown in sunny places, but then it requires regular watering. Otherwisethe leaves of the bamboo grass begin to dry at the edges
Bamboo grass requires slightly acidic, permeable and moderately moist soil , but easily adapts to different soil conditions. However, it grows poorly in heavy and clay soils as well as sandy and dry soils. Due to the shallow root system in hot and dry periodsbamboo grass should be watered regularly and abundantly
Althoughbamboo grass is a sufficiently frost-resistant speciesfor most regions of Poland (frost resistance zone 6), at a young age, it is worth covering the base of the tuft with a mound of garden bark before winter. In the north-eastern regions of Poland, it is also worth covering adult plants. Bamboo grass leavesare not removed in autumnbecause they protect the plant from frost. They are pruned only at the turn of February and March (before the beginning of vegetation).
Fertilizing bamboo grassis not actually necessary. If the soil is not fertile, it is worth feeding it with compound fertilizer at the beginning of the season. It is very beneficialto mulch bamboo grass withcompost, which contains all the nutrients the plant needs.
Bamboo grass 'Albostriata'
Fig. Daderot, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Bamboo grass is propagated by dividing the carp . This treatment is performed in the spring. The root can be divided quite radically, because a small bunch of roots and a leaf bud are enough for a new clump of grass to grow.
Bamboo grass can be grownas a solitaire, but it looks particularly attractive when planted in a light shade in the company of such plants as: cranberry, funkia (hosta), garden ferns, lungwort and tawułki. It is perfect for borders, rockeries and Japanese gardens, and as a plant for planting slopes and shores of water reservoirs.In warmer regions of Poland, bamboo grass can also be used as a ground cover plant.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
