Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’
Hakone Japanese Forest Grass
- Family
- Poaceae
- Height
- 12 to 18 inches
- Width
- 18 to 24 inches
- Flower color
- Insignificant, typically beige to purplish
- Foliage color
- Bright golden-yellow with thin green stripes
- Bloom time
- Mid to late summer
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Regular watering, especially during hot, dry periods
- Maintenance
- Low
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 5 to 9
- Wildlife
- Not a major attractor for wildlife
About this plant
Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' is a stunning ornamental grass celebrated for its vibrant golden-yellow foliage with thin green stripes and graceful, cascading form. This deciduous grass emerges in spring with fresh color that deepens throughout the season, transforming into shades of orange, gold, and red in the fall before going dormant for winter. 'Aureola' forms a dense mound that works beautifully as ground cover or in containers, adding movement to shaded areas. Its low-maintenance nature, combined with its pest and disease resistance, makes it an excellent choice for brightening up garden corners.
Works well in
Borders · Shade Gardens · Woodland Gardens · Waterwise Gardens · Containers
Companion plants
Bleeding hearts · Solomon's seal · Ferns · Lungworts · Wild ginger · Hellebores
Design tip
Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. Keep it out of hot afternoon sun and layer it with woodland companions for a full, settled look.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen in the perennial border at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
