Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’

Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ is a versatile ornamental grass that can be displayed alone or as an accent piece in most gardens.
Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens
As far as the Perennial Plant Association is concerned, ol’ Horace Greeley can have the west. The PPA headed east to find its 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year, Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’. And, based on reviews from one direction to the other, you should follow suit to discover the wonders of the golden Japanese forest grass.

“When I view Hakonechloa ‘Aureola,’ there appears to be movement in its form,” said Debra Teachout-Teashon, a correspondent for Rainy Side Gardeners, a Web site dedicated to gardeners in the Northwest. “I see flowing water, as its golden leaves grow slightly upwards, then cascade down in a sinuous fashion. Even its name, when spoken, sounds as graceful and flowing as the grass.”

Marie Ianootti, a gardening specialist for About.com, concurred. “If you think all ornamental grasses look alike, Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ will change your mind,” she said. “The dense, low-growing clumps droop and sway in the breeze. But the plant’s real allure is its golden color, which holds up well in full sun and even partial shade.”

H. macra grows 12 to 18 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide with an arching form that resembles a cascading miniature bamboo.

Individual blades are ½-inch wide, featuring a bright yellow color with very thin green stripes. In the cool of autumn the foliage becomes tinged with shades of pink, red or orange. ‘Aureola’ is used primarily for its golden foliage, although it does produce tiny, inconspicuous flower spikes from late summer through mid autumn.

In the landscape
Golden hakone grass grows best in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. This grass will not grow well in poorly drained, heavy clay or very dry soil. It grows slowly and is non-invasive. Nursery propagation is available by division or plugs. This shade-tolerant grass has few insect or disease problems, and it isn’t favored by deer.

Among this plant’s strengths is its versatility, as it can be used on a garden bed edge or on a bank. It’s flashy enough to hold its own in a perennial border. And it can be a wonderful container plant, maintaining its size for many years and softening pots by cascading over the edges.

For more: Perennial Plant Association, www.perennialplant.org; Rainy Side Gardeners, www.rainside.com.