How to Grow Red Baron Cogongrass
Wikimedia Commons
Red Baron Cogongrass
Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron'
grassRed Baron is a striking ornamental grass cultivar prized for its dramatic red-tinged foliage that intensifies in color as temperatures cool. Growing 18-24 inches tall, it displays fine-textured leaves that emerge green and develop stunning crimson hues from mid-summer through fall. This compact, clumping grass adds dynamic color and movement to garden borders and containers.
When should you plant Red Baron Cogongrass in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Red Baron Cogongrass timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Red Baron Cogongrass
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Red Baron Cogongrass
Around Aug 15≈ 120 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Red Baron Cogongrass dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5b-9, with best color development in zones 6-8
Sign up free to see if Red Baron Cogongrass grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Red Baron Cogongrass timeline →Growth Stages
Emergence
3-4 weeksYoung shoots emerge in spring with pale green coloration
Keep soil evenly moist; apply mulch around base. Ensure adequate light exposure for color development.
Vegetative Growth
6-8 weeksPlant develops full clump structure with upright, fine-textured leaves
Water regularly during dry periods. Begin to see reddish tinging on leaf edges as temperatures warm.
Color Development
8-10 weeksLeaves progressively turn from green to deep red and burgundy, intensifying with cooler temperatures
Ensure full sun exposure for maximum color. Reduce watering slightly to stress plant mildly, which enhances red pigmentation.
Peak Color & Flowering
4-6 weeksPlant displays most intense red coloration; delicate cream-colored flower spikes emerge in late summer
Continue monitoring moisture. Enjoy ornamental value; remove spent flowers if desired.
Winter Dormancy
4-5 monthsFoliage fades to bronze-red; plant goes dormant in winter
Cut back dead foliage to ground in early spring before new growth. Leave standing through winter in colder zones for winter interest.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Ensure good air circulation; remove infected foliage. Avoid overhead watering in humid conditions.
-
Spray with water to dislodge; use neem oil if infestation is severe. Increase humidity around plant.
-
and
Remove debris and mulch that provides hiding places. Use slug traps or copper barriers if needed.
Uses
Garden Focal Point & Color Accent
OrnamentalRed Baron serves as a dramatic specimen plant in borders, foundation plantings, and containers, providing striking late-season color that complements autumn landscapes and persists into winter. [source]
Container & Seasonal Display
LandscapeThe compact size makes it ideal for pots, raised beds, and small gardens, offering portable color that can be positioned for maximum visual impact during peak coloration. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeThe delicate flower spikes attract beneficial insects and pollinators, providing late-season food sources and habitat structure for small creatures. [source]
Cut & Dried Arrangements
HouseholdThe feathery flower spikes and colored foliage can be cut fresh or dried for floral arrangements and decorative dried displays. [source]
Erosion Control & Ground Stabilization
LandscapeDense root systems help stabilize soil on slopes and prevent erosion while adding ornamental value to otherwise functional plantings. [source]
Harvest Tips
Not typically harvested, but cut back to ground level in early spring (late February to early March in most zones) before new growth emerges. Wear gloves as leaf edges can be sharp.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Red Baron's color intensity varies with seasons and temperature—cooler nights trigger anthocyanin pigment production, creating deeper reds and purples, which is why fall displays are most spectacular.
- 🌱 Despite its sometimes-aggressive wild relative (cogongrass is considered invasive in some regions), the Red Baron cultivar is well-behaved and non-invasive in most climates.
- 🌱 The fine, feathery flower spikes are sometimes called 'red candles' and can persist on the plant well into winter, providing winter interest even after foliage fades.
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Red Baron Cogongrass planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Red Baron Cogongrass seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Red Baron Cogongrass timeline →