Golden Variegated Hakone Grass
Light up Your Shade Garden
Stunningly beautiful, well-behaved, and easy to maintain. A low-maintenance win for the shade garden!
Golden variegated Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’) is a compact, ornamental perennial grass with striking foliage. Its arching, fine-textured leaves have vibrant golden-yellow and green variegations, creating a beautiful and eye-catching contrast in the shadier spots of the garden.
This grass grows 12 to 18 inches high and forms low, cascading mounds, making it ideal for borders and containers. It thrives in partial shade or full shade, and its foliage transitions from golden in spring to chartreuse in summer to a buff tan in fall, providing color and interest throughout the growing season. Its delicate appearance and low-maintenance nature make it a popular choice for shaded gardens and landscapes in zones 6-9.
This ornamental grass thrives in partial to fully shaded locations, making it an excellent choice for dappled sunlight and gardens with limited sun exposure. Plant in well-draining, consistently moist soil, and space individual plants 18 inches apart. Regular watering is essential to maintain the soil's moisture levels, especially during dry spells - learn more about best watering practices here. Mulching around the base of the grass helps to retain moisture and keep the soil cool. Pruning is generally minimal; you can trim back any dead or damaged growth in late winter to early spring to tidy up the plant and encourage new growth.
Golden variegated Hakone grass is relatively unbothered by insects pests and diseases, making it a truly low-maintenance plant for the shade garden. Rutgers University gives Hakone grass the highest rating for deer resistance on their list of Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance, making it a great choice for any shady spots where deer tend to browse.
Does Japanese Hakone Grass Spread? Is Japanese Hakone Grass Invasive?
Japanese Hakone grass spreads slowly by rhizomes, taking its time to establish and ultimately forming mounded clumps with cascading leaves that resemble a waterfall. Unlike some grass species, it doesn't have aggressive spreading tendencies and remains well-behaved in the garden. Japanese Hakone grass is not considered to be invasive.
Golden variegated Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’) and Lenten Rose (Helleborus spp.)
What Can I Plant with Golden Variegated Hakone Grass?
Japanese painted fern and golden variegated Hakone grass create an alluring vignette when planted together in a shady corner.
Astilbes: Astilbes, known for their feathery, plume-like flowers in various shades of pink, red, purple and white, make an excellent choice to plant alongside golden variegated Hakone grass. Their elegant, upright blooms and dark green leaves provide a lovely color contrast to the grass's golden variegation, creating a dynamic visual impact. Both plants enjoy consistently moist, well-drained soil, making them compatible in terms of care requirements. Learn more about astilbes here.
Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.): These perennials come in a wide array of leaf colors, from deep burgundy to lime green and silvery shades. The contrasting foliage and low, mounding growth habit complement the arching, cascading nature of golden variegated Hakone grass. Both plants share preferences for partial shade and well-drained soil.
Barrenwort (Epimedium spp.): Barrenwort has elegant, heart-shaped leaves and dainty spring blooms. Their texture and leaf shape contrasts nicely with the fine, arching leaves of golden variegated Hakone grass.
Hosta (Plantain Lily): Hostas are a popular choice to pair with golden variegated Hakone grass. Blue or dark green hostas create a striking color contrast, and their bold foliage shape highlights the graceful habit of Hakone grass. Both plants thrive in similar partial to full shade conditions, making them well-matched companions.
Lenten Rose (Hellebores/Helleborus spp.): The delicate, arching form of Hakone grass combined with the bold leaf shape of Lenten Rose adds depth, dimension, and year-round appeal to the garden landscape, making them a well-matched pairing for gardeners seeking an attractive and low-maintenance shade garden.
Japanese painted fern (Anisocampium [formerly Athyrium] niponicum 'Pictum'): The bold silver and burgundy hues of Japanese painted fern contrast nicely with the bright variegation of this Hakone grass. Both thrive in partial to full shade.
Landscape Design Ideas for Japanese Hakone Grass
Woodland gardens: Given its preference for shade, Hakone grass is an excellent addition to any woodland garden. Plant in the dappled sunlight underneath trees and shrubs to create a lush, carpet-like effect.
Mixed borders: Combine Hakone grass with other shade-loving perennials and shrubs to create visually appealing mixed borders. Its fine texture and color contrast beautifully with hostas, ferns, and heucheras, adding texture and depth to any planting scheme.
Containers: Hakone grass does well in containers, making it an elegant and stylish choice for any shady patio or balcony. Learn more about designing containers for shade here.
Rock gardens: Contrasting the soft texture of Hakone grass with the rugged terrain of a rock garden creates a captivating juxtaposition. Plant it between rocks and boulders to soften the landscape's overall appearance.
Water features: Surround water features, such as ponds or streams, with Hakone grass. The cascading leaves of the Hakone grass create a waterfall-like effect and add a picturesque serenity to the landscape.
Along shaded paths and walkways: Planting Hakone grass alongside shady paths and walkways can guide visitors through the garden while adding an element of surprise and charm.
Focal Point: To help draw attention to a focal point in the shade garden, surround it with a mass planting of Hakone grass. A focal point is any object or plant you would like to highlight and draw the eye towards, such as a sculpture, bench, fountain, or Japanese Maple specimen.