This is a well behaved plant that provides variety to the shade garden. It contrasts nicely with the leaves of Hostas. It requires no attention in my plantings. The only thing I do is cut it back in early spring.

Paul - I cut it back late Nov. to early Dec. or else those dried up leaves seem to fly all over the garden. Currently I have seven of them. They're fast growers - very fast!

That's interesting, Arlene, they are very slow growers for me.

I like to leave them up all winter, cut them down in early spring.

Only grown this plant for three years, but it really looks like a super plant, very easy to care for and looking good for a long time. Slug and deer resistant.
I cut mine back in the spring as well. I have been concerned that cutting them earlier would affect hardiness negatively, but this is more or less based on general care for ornamental grasses in my climate, and perhaps not an issue with this one.
A fairly slow grower for me as well.

Recently also added Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold' to the garden as I was so impressed with 'Aureola'.

This is a great companion plant for my hosta! It's not slow growing for me! I've split my 3 original plants several times to share with friends or spread throughout my gardens. It definitely brightens up a shady area with its golden foliage.

Look how fast it multiplies here:


It devoured the Frances Williams hosta and the sedum. Now it's so large that the rock is difficult to find.

WOW! It's on steroids! Arlene, can you tell us more about where it's sited?

How much sun/shade, water and/or fertilizer? What kind of soil?

I'd love for mine to grow that well.

Very good illustration. Especially considering how close it was to its neighbors, that is very impressive growth rate
Mine is certainly nowhere close to that!

All of mine eat up all available space. Next time I dig one I'll pot it to try and stop the spreading.

SS- that one is in only morning sun. All others are in full sun. They never get fed and the soil is not enriched. Our irrigation system goes on for 45 minutes at a time, three times a week. I had them change it to four times a week for 2016.

Here's the original one, planted in 2007, that led to so many more:

As of 10/2011:

9/2012: Dividing time.
(Just one division!)

Arlene, mine are all in full to mostly shade, and never get any supplemental watering. That probably makes a difference!

Yours are gorgeous!

Thanks. All of mine do get mulch because it helps so much with water retention, and I do love how mulch looks. Silly, I know, but I love "nice and neat".

Mine are planted among my Hostas which are well watered........

Zone envy here. I have tried them several times. They are usually gone by year 3.

This picture was taken May 17th. All Gold grass with hosta El Nino in the background

Beautiful!

I love the blue/gold combo in the shade and purple/pink/chartreuse combo in the sun.

Nice picture Rose.......

I ran on to two more pictures of Hakonechloa with Hostas.....

Pirl, I had no idea that Hakone grass could grow so quickly! I am zone 6a (just re-zoned from 5b). My hakonechloa is a solid performer, but definitely not a fast spreader.

I team it with a pale yellow blooming daylily & makes a nice show.


I think it adds the appearance of motion to the garden because the leaves bend over in the same direction & sway a bit as well. I also think of Hakonechloa macra aureola (& Hakonechloa 'All Gold') as being one of my 'bright lights' in the garden. In shady areas they both seem to glow a bit.

I do really like them movement with just a slight breeze but mine have been slower growers. But I also find that they do better in sun then shade in this area.

Cayuga - yours is so beautiful. I have some yellow lilies nearby.


That plant came from dividing the initial one.