Re: favorite shade plants

Well, Chris, wish I could give you a formula for this one.  I have
had one clump of this for about 15 years in the bed next to the path
leading to our covered walk, under the skirts of a Cimicifuga
(Actea).  This year, I realized it was too far under those skirts, so
dug it up and moved it over a few feet...this was in very early
spring and it seems to be happy about it.  This clump has not
expanded much at all in all those years, but has seemed happy and has
not died.  Conditions- no real direct sun; dappled sun, soil that can
get dry but I water there when it does; amended clay.

I have since acquired 5 tiny clumps from a plant sale - really cheap
and two good sized clumps from I can't remember where - think one was
at plant exchange; just put that in the ground yesterday.

Anyway....the tiny plants are in their 3rd season and still tiny, but
seem happy - amended acidic clay (now, I wonder if your soil is too
alkaline?)  dappled shade but a very bright spot as the trees are
very tall and high branched right there.

The 2 larger clumps have been planted next to each other - like
Keith, I have had visions of waving magnificent stands of this plant
for seemingly centuries and at the rate they expand, it will be
centuries before I reach that goal:-)  Again, amended clay - but lots
of rotted wood chips incorporated in this bed; dappled shade - the
first clump in this spot seemed so happy, I figured the 2nd might be
as well and maybe...just maybe they'd expand!

In all cases, my soil can dry out, but I water so it doesn't.  

I am thinking Donna's point about your climate has merit...I do not
find these plants have the vigorous root systems of many ornamental
grasses; more wiry and sparse than large and deep.  They seem to
spread on tough but slender underground rhizomes - or maybe it's just
roots; hard to tell - but not like many plants whose underground
parts are fat and rambunctious.

If I caught rabbits munching mine, we'd be talking fricassee real
soon!

So, how are you amending your soil when planting these guys?

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: Christopher P. Lindsey <lindsey@mallorn.com>
>    What's the secret to growing Hakonechloa?  I've tried and tried
and 
>    tried, but it always wastes away to a sprig or two.  I'm ready
to
>    give up since it's not a cheap plant to experiment with!
> 
>    So far I've tried dry shade, moist shade, dry shade with morning
>    sun, moist shade with morning sun, dry shade with afternoon sun,
>    and moist shade with afternoon sun.  The plants just seem to
waste
>    away (although I'm sure it doesn't help that I've seen the local
>    rabbit population munching on them as well).
> 
>    Oh, and no posting about Hakonechloa is complete without a link
to
>    the funniest post about it in the archives:
>    
>       http://www.hort.net/lists/perennials/mar01/msg00020.html
> 
>    So, what's the secret?

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