We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Imperata - (L.)Raeusch.

Common Name Cogongrass, Japanese Blood Grass
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Open sandy habitats, usually by a river or the sea shore in Europe[50]. Commonly found on impoverished soils in Australia[193].
Range E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Imperata Cogongrass, Japanese Blood Grass


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Brighterorange
Imperata Cogongrass, Japanese Blood Grass
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wie146

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Imperata is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in flower from August to September, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

I. arundinacea. Miscanthus arundinacea. Saccharum cylindricum.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Young inflorescence and young shoots - cooked[177, 179]. Root - fibrous but pleasant to chew, containing starch and sugar[144, 177, 179]. Fairly sweet, the taste is sweetest in the wet season in Australia and worst from plants growing in sand[193]. The ash of the plant is used as a salt substitute[177].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The flowers and the roots are antibacterial, diuretic, febrifuge, sialagogue, styptic and tonic[147, 176, 178]. The flowers are used in the treatment of haemorrhages, wounds etc[218]. They are decocted and used to treat urinary tract infections, fevers, thirst etc[147, 218]. The root is astringent, antifebrile, antivinous, diuretic, emollient, haemostatic, restorative and tonic[218, 240]. It is used in the treatment of nose bleeds, haematuria, haematemesis, oedema and jaundice[176]. The root has antibacterial action against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus dysenteriae etc[176]. A decoction of the root is used as an anthelmintic and also to treat digestive disorders such as indigestion, diarrhoea and dysentery[272]. The root bark is febrifuge, restorative and tonic[218]. Extracts of the plant have shown viricidal and anticancer activity[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

The leaves are woven to make mats, bags and raincoats[46, 61, 193]. The inflorescences are valued for stuffing pillows and cushions[272]. The stems are used in thatching roofs[46, 61, 178, 272]. A fibre obtained from the leaves is used in making paper[46, 61, 154]. Can be planted on sandy soils to prevent erosion[154, 272]. The plants form impenetrably dense clumps and when planted close together in drifts make an excellent ground cover[200].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Alpine garden, Border, Massing, Rock garden, Specimen. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil in sun or partial shade[162, 187]. This species is only hardy in the southern part of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -15°c when dormant[187], though the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. The var. I. cylindrica major. (Nees.)C.E.Hubb. is used medicinally in China[176] and as a wild food in Australia[193]. This species is quite closely related to sugar cane, it has been interbred experimentally with that species in India[193]. Plants grow away vigorously after a fire, often spreading freely to infest the burnt areas[144, 193]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, There are no flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring in a greenhouse. The seed germinates quickly, prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring as the plant comes into growth. Division is very easy and can be carried out at almost any time in the year, though winter divisions are best potted up in the greenhouse and planted out in late spring[K].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Imperata cylindricaCogongrass, Japanese Blood GrassPerennial1.2 6-9 SLMHNDM333

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

(L.)Raeusch.

Botanical References

50200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Imperata  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.