Hakonechloa macra comes from the moist mountain slopes of central Japan, where it grows along wet rocky cliffs near Mt. Hakone. In the garden it brings that same quality of cool, flowing abundance: dense arching mounds of bright green, linear leaves about ten inches long that cascade in one direction like a slow spill of water. In fall the leaves take on a blush of red and pink before dying back to the ground, and in midsummer airy sprays of greenish-yellow flowers appear, usually half-hidden by the foliage.

This grass demands consistency. It needs rich, reliably moist, well-drained soil and performs best in part to full shade, especially in warmer climates where summer heat can scorch the leaves if moisture slips. It will not tolerate heavy clay, poor drainage, or prolonged drought, and gardeners in zones 8 and 9 should treat it with some caution in hot summers. Growth is slow enough that division is rarely needed for years. Cut it back to the ground in late winter before new growth begins, and it will return with the same graceful habit each spring.