Chinese Lucky Grass Reineckea carnea
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ry-NECK-ee-ah car-NEE-ah
- Description
-
Chinese lucky grass is a grass-like evergreen perennial in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) and is native to China and Japan. Genus is named for J. Reinecke, a German grower of tropical plants
This plant grows in mounds of arching leaves up to 8 inches tall and spreads by short rhizomes. It is tolerant of part shade-to-shade conditions in most any well-drained moist soil. It does best with consistent moisture.
It is sometimes confused with lirope but the leaves are wider with a softer texture. The flowers are fragrant and showy on short spikes that are held within the leaves. Red round fruits follow and persist through winter.
Use this plant as a ground cover under larger bushes, in the front border of a shade garden, mass planted or in a container. It tolerates heat and humidity and deer and rabbits leave it alone.
Additional Reineckea images from Juniper Level Botanical Gardens
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Black spot and leaf rot can occur
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cedric Bassett'
Lavender-pink fragrant flowers - 'Greenscape'
Lavender flowers in late fall to winter - 'Jinfo Jewel'
Smaller plant to 4 inches tall with pink flowers - 'Variegata'
Varigated leaves and pink flowers May- June
- 'Cedric Bassett'
- 'Cedric Bassett', 'Greenscape', 'Jinfo Jewel', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cedric Bassett'
Lavender-pink fragrant flowers - 'Greenscape'
Lavender flowers in late fall to winter - 'Jinfo Jewel'
Smaller plant to 4 inches tall with pink flowers - 'Variegata'
Varigated leaves and pink flowers May- June
- 'Cedric Bassett'
- 'Cedric Bassett', 'Greenscape', 'Jinfo Jewel', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Reineckea
- Species:
- carnea
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China and Japan
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small red to orange round fruits persist through winter
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Clusters of small fragrant pink star-shaped flowers have 5 petals and long stamens. Bloom in summer
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-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Strap-like evergreen leaves are up to 12 inches long and 1 inch or less wide. Margins are entire,
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The flower stem is reddish-green
-
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Patio
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
- Humidity
- Rabbits
