Hakonechloa macra Japanese Hakone grass

[miamicuse]

Was at the New York City Botanical Gardens two weeks ago.  I saw this very unique grass called Japanese Hakone grass.

Not for some place hot and sunny so it's not for south Florida...but are there other grass with a similar look and texture that will thrive in the hot sunny and humid?

[miamicuse]

here are some pictures I took at the garden.

[EJPalm05]

Is that in Brooklyn or the Bronx?

[miamicuse]

2 hours ago, EJ NJ said:

Is that in Brooklyn or the Bronx?

Bronx.

[Than]

I was reading about hakone grass yesterday; I am also gutted I cannot grow it. I checked inaturalist to see if it is found in southern Japan but no conclusive information found. 

Perhaps in shade and with high moisture and humidity you may make it.

[hinovak]

Yeah, hamone grass gets smoke checked in Texas as well. There are some pretty cool sedge varieties, some that have wide leaves, or dwarf/thin leaves aspidistra that both can have a decent look in mass. About the closest thing I can think of, 

[Silas_Sancona]

While it doesn't sit quite as flat as Hakonechloa,  Setaria palmifolia can take some deg. of dryness and heat  ..if grown in some shade.  Grows pretty well in S. Cal. grew it w/ out issue in San Jose. Supposedly hardy to zone 8 as well, though i'd assume it gets knocked down each winter in such an area?? 

Well irrigated, it can exceed 4- 6ft in height. 

 

[hbernstein]

On 9/1/2023 at 7:57 PM, miamicuse said:

Was at the New York City Botanical Gardens two weeks ago.  I saw this very unique grass called Japanese Hakone grass.

Not for some place hot and sunny so it's not for south Florida...but are there other grass with a similar look and texture that will thrive in the hot sunny and humid?

Not the same, but somewhat similar, you might try Dwarf Bamboo Grass, Pogonatherum setaceum:

 

It also comes in a variegated form:

Or maybe something that really likes sun, is very drought tolerant, and gets much bigger, Bamboo Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia dumosa:

[Than]

I wonder if muehlenbeckia platyclada can make a ground cover. It is somehow common here.

Another impressive groundcover is our common pothos plant. It is surprisingly cold hardy, even if it looks a bit cr@p in the winter.