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Golden Hakonechloa

Hakonechloa macra (hah-koh-no-KLO-uh MAK-ruh)

Family: Poaceae Non-native Herbaceous

Aureola is a variegated form of Hakone grass, having yellow leaves with a narrow green stripe near the leaf margin. When grown in part shade, the yellow tones in the foliage will predominate. In more intense shade, the variegation will be lime green. It has a cascading habit in which most of the leaves arch in the same direction, appearing much like a golden waterfall and is attractive when cascading down slopes, over rocks or the sides of containers. Hakone grass requires a rich, consistently moist, well-drained soil. Leaves may scorch in the heat if moisture is inconsistent. More information on Hakonechloa macra .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 32 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Hakonechloa macra

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Wet
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Cascading; Mounding
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
yellow leaves with a narrow green stripe near the leaf margin
Flower color
Cream/Tan
Flower form
Insignificant; Panicle; Spike
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Rock Wall; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting; Specimen
Garden tags
#shade garden #rock garden #low maintenance #Asian garden #cascading #arching #slopes #yellow-green #mounding #moist soil #deer resistant #ornamental grass #well-drained soil #container plant #variegated
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Deer
Propagation
Division

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.