I have never seen seed for this available anywhere, tbh (apart from a possibly dodgy Ebay source). best bet - buy a plant and make some aggressive divisions - as it does have a slightly running rhizome, I would have thought this was feasible.

Think there are issues with seed sterility?

I have Hakonechloa macra grasses in my garden, 8 different cultivars, and although they flower each year, I have never seen a single seedling. But most cultivars grow very vigorous and can be easily divided. Even very small pieces regrow fast when potted on.

Yes, there should be no need to grow these from seed. And if you want the variegation you would use divisions in order to be sure of retaining that anyway.

No seeds, but this blogger has an EXCELLENT post on how to propagate Hakone/Hakonechloa grass and turn one plant into many. Great details and photos in the instructions. I believe it is a slow-growing grass, so patience will be needed. If you have a spot where you could propagate them in prep for future annual pots, it's an option. I'm not that dedicated planning ahead for containers, but I hope to use his method to increase my current hake grass so I don't have to pay $$$ for more.

Propagate Japanese Forest Grass

“I believe it is a slow-growing grass, so patience will be needed.”

This is very true!

In my garden Hakonechloa is not a slow-growing grass. They need a year to get established, but after that they grow quite fast. I have to split them regularly or else they grow huge.

I'm glad there are so many other that share my experience with this plant. And EXPENSIVE indeed. Never seemed to achieve those massive extended plants that posters like carindutch mention. However, my big score last year at my garden club's sale, was a HUGE clump (maybe donated by carindutch??) in their "special" section = $5. (Actually there was two, but the club president through off her presidential crown and snapped up the other one!), I planted it fully intact and babied that thing through the season, so it darn well better do its thing this season.

carindutch, you are the "cool gardener" right now! At the end of last summer I found some barely living in our neglected bed from the previous owners. Overrun with other junk, some grass, etc., I salvaged the pieces I could, and I mean pieces, and replanted it under a Japanese maple on the sloping southern side. It is in shade, but gets more sun than the things on the northern side of the maple. I'm really hoping they like it there! Trying to achieve that "flowing stream" look.

LaLennoxa, I have Sad Face now. I didn't realize it was a nonperformer in some areas. Fingers crossed here.

Well, it always felt like it was just a non-performer for me, even though I had the ideal location for it. So that's why I identify with buying those endless expensive clumps from the nurseries, trying to get the darn stuff to grow well, LOL. Anyway, I gave that large clump a central spot in my garden so it knows I am watching it and better grow!

Hakone grass grows well in my acid sandy loam, but I wouldn't say it grows rapidly. I have taken some chunks off the original plant, but in my short season they expand slowly. They don't seem to be favored by voles, which in my garden is a very welcome trait. Mine is more than 10 years old, and the original plant (1 gallon at planting) is now about 2' across. I think I cut off 2 chunks over the years.

Yep, it isn't exactly romping away in my garden...in fact, I gave up altogether in my home garden as the cats and dogs treated it as a salad bar. In the sandy soil in the woods, it has never really extended too far outwards - although it clearly does grow, it has never had enough moisture to make lush cascading mounds (more saluki fur than Newfie pelt), in terms of luxurious growth. To be honest, I just want that short flash of pale leaf beneath a dark leaved elder...so am thinking of carex - far less fussy if minus the elegance of habit.

This is a photo of the blue and gold garden at Heronswood, just up the road from me. Dan used Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' to border the beds.

It does grow slowly but is relatively easy to expand one's collection by division......although not very rapidly :-)

Like most plants from Asia, it grows extremely well in the PNW climate.

^^ Oh that is gorgeous, it has such an easy, relaxing feel.

'Albo-striata' more up close

As you can see most plants in my garden are in full sun or semi-shade. I don't use them in deep shade. They won't tolerate dry soil. In a dry spell they will show immediately that the ground is dry by rolling up the leaves. Immediate watering is then necessary.

I forgot to mention that my soil is a light clay. In the Netherlands it never gets really hot and our winters are not very cold with no snowcover.

Beautiful gardens, carindutch! Your use of foliage is really well done.

Do you find that the different cultivars grow at different rates or to different sizes? I noticed in the second-to-last photo that there is quite a range in the sizes of the clumps.

In my garden, 'All Gold' seems to prefer bright shade with little sun or else it scorches.

Carindutch: Beautiful! The foliage contrast between the All Gold and the brunnera is striking, and the pop of blue is the icing on the cake, really pops the yellow of the foliage!

Carindutch, I'm halfway tempted to turn my flower beds back over to lawn. Your gardens are so well planted and inviting.

My hakonechloa is on a slight slope with just morning sun and no rooty tree competition. Slowly but surely it's spreading and I may try moving a few divisions next spring, but it's far from fast growing... although it always looks good when in leaf and I might even put it on a favorite plants short list.

Carin your gardens are lovely!

A couple Aureola...

With Rodgersia and Liberty hosta

Found the perfect spot for the babies here.....saved for this spring

Thank you for all your lovely comments.

The combination Hakonechloa and Hosta is perfect, but I have potted up almost all my hosta's because of the slugs and snails. Luckily Hakonechloa isn't on their menu.

Yes, there is quite a difference in growingspeed and in size between the cultivars. The fastest grower and the largest plant is 'Albo-striata', but it is also not as beautiful as the rest. It is a bit of a sloppy grower, shoots al over the place and not a neat, dense clump. 'Naomi' is like a smaller 'Aureola', but also fast growing. The all green H. macra is an excellent plant, very upright growing. 'Nicolas' is also all green, but a little smaller with better colour in fall. 'Beni Kaze', 'Greenhills' (a small all green) and 'Sunny Delight' (multicoloured) haven't been here for more than 2 seasons.

I am trying not to look too hard at the great Hakonechloa shown in this thread, for fear I might lose my mind in jealousy.