Hakonechloa macra 'Sunflare' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Hakonechloa macra 'Sunflare' — 17cm / 2L
Japanese Forest Grass

Hakonechloa macra 'Sunflare'

£12.99
Very hardyShade-tolerant
Pot size
17cm / 2L £12.99

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Description

The Hakonechloa macra 'Sunflare' is the most fiery of all the Japanese forest grasses, a deciduous, clump-forming grass whose narrow, cascading leaves emerge bright chartreuse-gold in spring, deepen to warm golden-yellow through summer, then blaze with crimson and burgundy tips as the nights draw in. Where the classic gold forms glow, 'Sunflare' positively smoulders, making it one of the most colourful ways to light up a shady corner. It is a standout addition to our range of ornamental grasses.

This is a genuinely tough, fully hardy grass. Rated RHS H7, it shrugs off the severest British winters, well below -20C once established. Being deciduous, it dies back over winter and reshoots in spring, so the fireworks build through the growing season and peak in autumn. For more on how our hardy plants behave across the seasons, see our guide to what to expect from hardy exotics.

Water regularly through the first couple of summers to settle it in, then it becomes wonderfully low maintenance. Its flowing, low habit makes it superb at the front of exotic borders, spilling over path edges, or planted in drifts under trees among other plants for shade. It is equally happy in a container, where the cascading leaves can tumble over the rim, so it earns a place among our favourite plants for pots and patios. Pair it with the classic Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' for a tapestry of gold.

Whether you are hunting for the brightest hardy grass or building a layered planting of hardy exotics, 'Sunflare' delivers season-long colour. Every plant we supply is nursery-grown, carefully selected for a healthy crown and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Japanese Forest Grass

Plant me in full sun and the coldest UK winters do not worry me.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Japanese Forest Grass

Hakonechloa macra 'Sunflare' needs full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is very hardy, standing the coldest UK winters outdoors.

Good for

Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Shade

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H7 · Hardy Exotic · below −20°C

fully hardy in the UK; simply comb out the faded foliage in late winter.

Position

Full sunPartial shadeNorth-facingEast-facingSouth-facingWest-facingExposedSheltered

dappled part shade is ideal, though 'Sunflare' takes more sun than most Japanese forest grasses; a little filtered sun deepens the gold and brings out the red tips.

Soil

ChalkClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

any moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil, from chalk to clay, across the full pH range.

Watering

Keep the rootball reliably moist through the first two summers while it establishes and never let it bake dry. Once settled it is low maintenance. Simply comb out or cut away the faded foliage in late winter before the fresh leaves unfurl. Read moreShow less

Keep the rootball reliably moist through the first two summers while it establishes and never let it bake dry. Once settled it is low maintenance. Simply comb out or cut away the faded foliage in late winter before the fresh leaves unfurl.

Mature size

Height40-45 cm
Spread45 cm

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Flowering

Aug to Sep (insignificant) · Green

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Deciduous

Pruning

Deciduous, so simply comb out or cut away the faded foliage in late winter before the fresh leaves unfurl.

Toxicity

No reported toxicity to people or pets; Hakonechloa is generally considered non-toxic and is a pet-friendly, family-friendly grass.

Native range

Japan

Family

Poaceae

Also known as

Hakonechloa macra 'Sunflare'

Genus

Hakonechloa
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hakonechloa macra 'Sunflare' fully hardy in the UK?

Yes. 'Sunflare' is rated RHS H7, the top hardiness band, so it withstands the severest British winters, well below -20C once established. It is deciduous, meaning it dies back over winter and reshoots each spring, so do not worry when the foliage fades. See our guide to what to expect from hardy exotics.

Does 'Sunflare' need sun or shade for the best colour?

It is happiest in dappled part shade but takes more sun than most Japanese forest grasses. A little morning or filtered sun deepens the gold and brings out the fiery red leaf tips, while deep shade turns it more lime green. It sits beautifully among other plants for shade.

When does 'Sunflare' turn red?

The gold leaves are edged crimson from spring, and as the nights cool in autumn the whole clump flushes with burgundy and orange-red tints before it dies back for winter. Fresh gold growth returns each spring, so the colour show renews itself year after year.

How big does 'Sunflare' get and how fast?

It forms a neat, cascading mound to about 40 to 45 cm tall and 45 cm across, reaching its full size in around 2 to 5 years. It is clump-forming and well behaved, so it will not run or become invasive.

Can I grow 'Sunflare' in a pot?

Absolutely. Its low, tumbling habit is made for containers, spilling over the rim beautifully. Use a humus-rich, moisture-retentive compost and keep it watered through summer. Browse more plants for pots and patios.

Is 'Sunflare' safe for pets and children?

Yes. Hakonechloa has no reported toxicity to people or pets and is considered a safe, family-friendly ornamental grass.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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