Red Baron Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron')
im-per-AY-tah sill-IND-rih-kah 'Red Baron'

Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) in the Poaceae Family
'Red Baron' is a selection of Japanese blood grass grown for its blades, which emerge green at the base and turn deep blood-red toward the tips, intensifying through the growing season and becoming most vivid in full sun during late summer and fall. It was named and introduced to the US nursery trade by Kurt Bluemel, Inc.; the red-leaved form itself originated in Japan.

Pros

  • Striking red-to-burgundy seasonal color unlike almost any other ornamental grass
  • More compact and far less aggressive than the wild green species
  • Low-maintenance once established; rarely needs dividing

Cons

  • Color is much less vivid in shade than in full sun
  • Hardiness is marginal in the Chicago area; may not reliably survive harsh winters
  • Can revert to plain green growth, which should be removed promptly since the green form is an aggressive, federally regulated noxious weed
This plant may be mostly winter-hardy outdoors where you live, but it may need protection to survive extreme weather.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 24 inches tall.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 6a - 9b (Usually hardy to -10° F)
Tags Colorful Foliage, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Full Sun, Grasses, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Red Foliage, Specimen, Winter Interest
Bloom Period Rarely Flowers
Foliage Color
 

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!