Plant Profile

Imperata cylindrica (Cogon grass, Japanese Blood Grass)

Cogon grass is a grass native to Japan, and is a highly invasive plant, sometimes considered as a weed. It's an upright, clump forming grass. Its leaves are green but become colored (Red, orange, tan) during winter.

Landscape Information
Botanical Description
Horticulture Management

By Wouter Hagens (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia (Imperata cylindrica flowerhead5) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Wagino 20100516 [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By W.A. Djatmiko (Wie146) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Wouter Hagens (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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French Name: paillotte

Arabic Name: حلفى، حلفاء

Pronunciation: im-per-AH-tuh sil-IN-dree-kuh
Plant type: Groundcover
Origin: Japan
Heat Zones: 3 to 16

Hardiness Zones: 5 to 13
Uses: Border Plant, Container, Wildlife, Ground cover
Size/Shape

Growth Rate: Fast

Tree Shape: Upright

Canopy Texture: Medium

Height at Maturity: 0.5 to 1 m, 1 to 1.5 m

Spread at Maturity: Less than 50 cm

Time to Ultimate Height: 2 to 5 Years

By Wouter Hagens (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia (Imperata cylindrica flowerhead5) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Wagino 20100516 [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By W.A. Djatmiko (Wie146) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Wouter Hagens (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Foliage

Leaf Venation: Nearly Invisible

Leaf Persistance: Deciduous

Leaf Type: Simple

Leaf Blade: 50 - 80

Leaf Shape: Linear

Leaf Margins: Serrate

Leaf Texture: Rough

Leaf Scent: No Fragance

Color(growing season): Green

Color(changing season): Orange, Red, Copper
Flower

Flower Showiness: No

Flower Type: Spike

Flower Sexuality: Monoecious (Bisexual)

Flower Scent: No Fragance

Flower Color: White
Trunk
Fruit

Fruit Showiness: No

Fruit Color: Orange, White

By Wouter Hagens (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia (Imperata cylindrica flowerhead5) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Wagino 20100516 [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By W.A. Djatmiko (Wie146) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Wouter Hagens (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Tolerance

Frost Tolerant: Yes

Heat Tolerance: Yes

Drought Tolerance: Yes

Salt Tolerance: Moderate
Requirements

Soil Requirements: Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil Ph Requirements: Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

Water Requirements: Moderate, Low

Light Requirements: Full, Part
Management

Invasive Potential: Yes

Susceptibility to Pests and Diseases: No

Pruning Requirements: No pruning at all

Edible Parts: None

Plant Propagation: Cutting, Division