Imperata cylindrica

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA

The following taxa are (or were) represented in the collections at Boone County Arboretum. Additional taxa may be available in the trade that are not included here.

  • Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron' // Red Baron Japanese Blood Grass
    Grass. Leaves grow to 20" tall. Clump diameter slowly spreads by rhizomes. Leaf emerges green at the base in spring with red tips, the red color increases through the summer. Color fades with a hard frost. Best growth in moist, fertile soil in full sun. Drought tolerant once established. Tough enough for use as a groundcover in challenging sites such as parking lots and traffic islands. Propagate by division and transplant in spring. Hardy to Zone 6. Native to Japan. Used as a strong color accent, can be dramatic in sweeps and masses. This species has become highly invasive in some areas, and is not recommended for new plantings.
    -- not currently in our collection --