Date: October 3, 2020, Author: ndrodrigues
Striking, fiery, and red are probably not the words that come to mind when you think of perennial grass. But this is exactly what you get with Japanese bloodgrass (Imperata cylindrica). Its highly ornamental foliage deepens in color over the course of a growing season, from a pink tinge in spring to show-stopping scarlet in autumn.
But be careful when adding Imperata cylindrica to your garden—and make sure you buy the red variety to avoid adding an invasive species to your landscape. And remember, this distinctive grass is not for the timid gardener. You must love red and you must appreciate plants that are eye-catching and brazen.
Japanese bloodgrass is a cool-season, low-maintenance grass with few pests or problems. The biggest issue is when the plant is sited incorrectly. It prefers cool, moist, and sunny locations and tends to revert to green and exhibit invasive tendencies in full shade, which makes it a potential hazard to other plants.
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