Imperata 'Red Baron'

Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron': Blades Aflame in the Border

With its vibrant, flame-tipped foliage, Imperata 'Red Baron' delivers unmatched drama and colour to sunny borders. Emerging green in spring, each narrow blade gradually deepens to vivid crimson from the tips downward, intensifying through summer and reaching peak brilliance in autumn. The upright, slightly translucent form catches the light beautifully, adding movement and seasonal flair. While rarely flowering in cool climates, it excels as a foliage feature—bold yet refined, and always eye-catching.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 30–50 cm
• Spread: 30–40 cm
• Flower Colour: Rarely flowers in cooler regions
• Flowering Period: Late summer (if flowering)
• Foliage: Upright, narrow blades; green at base with crimson-red tips that intensify through the season
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to light shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil; tolerates average to slightly dry conditions

Uses and Benefits: Ideal as a focal point or repeated drift, 'Red Baron' brings striking vertical colour to mixed borders, containers, and modern landscapes. Its bold red hues contrast beautifully with silver, gold, or purple foliage and hold strong until frost. Deer resistant and tidy, it works especially well in combinations that rely on texture and foliage rather than blooms alone.

Companion Plants: Set Imperata 'Red Baron' alongside Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound' for a shimmering silver contrast. Tuck in Coreopsis 'Baby Sun' for warm yellow daisy blooms that echo summer sunshine. Add vertical structure with Liatris spicata, whose purple flower spikes attract pollinators and echo the upright rhythm of the grass.

Care Instructions: Grow in full sun for best colour. Provide moist, well-drained soil; avoid overly rich or soggy conditions. Water during prolonged dry periods, especially in containers. Cut back old growth in early spring as new shoots emerge. Clumps may be divided in spring every few years to maintain vigour and size.

History: A selection of Imperata cylindrica, native to East Asia, 'Red Baron' (also known as 'Rubra' or Japanese Blood Grass) is prized for its exceptional colour and compact habit. Unlike its more aggressive wild form, this ornamental cultivar is non-invasive and well-behaved in cultivated settings.

Final Thoughts: Like sparks rising from the earth, Imperata 'Red Baron' infuses gardens with bold seasonal energy—its glowing blades a reliable source of contrast, colour, and movement from midsummer into fall.