Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold'

ALL GOLD JAPANESE FOREST GRASS
Family: Poaceae
Pronounced: hah-koe-neh-KLOE-uh

 

Quick Jumps

Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes

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GROWING GUIDE

Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Grasses.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 2b-9, 14-24.
USDA zones: 5-9.
Heat zones: 9-5.
Mature size:
Height: 14 inches (35 cm).
Width: 16 inches (40 cm).
Leaf attributes:
Arching, golden, linear leaves.
Growth habit:
Clumping.
Light:
Full sun to full shade.
Soil:
Moist, humus rich, well-drained soil.
Propagation Methods:
Divide in spring.
Pruning Methods:
Cut old stems to the ground in late winter to early spring.
Pests and Diseases:
Seldom bothered by either.

 

Rainy Side Notes

Japanese forest grass is one of the best ornamental grasses, as not too many grasses can thrive in shade as this one does. ‘All Gold’ lights up the shadows with an arching textural form and does it with beauty and grace. There are endless possibilities of pairing with many plants to provide a stimulating visual experience for a shady space. Pair it with bold foliage plants or delicate ones, the grass adds lively color wherever you plant it! This is a splendid plant for containers, where it can spill over and cascade down the sides of pots.

Growing this grass in partial sun to dappled shade, means you can weave this in and out of the shade as long as you protect it from hot afternoon sun. The blades will have a more intense yellow growing in morning sun; growing in shade the hue is softer, more towards the chartreuse end of yellow. The flowers are nondescript, but I think they are interesting when viewed close-up.

 

Hakon is a region in Japan and chloa is the Greek word for grass. Macra is the epithet for large.

Photographed at Old Goat Farm, Orting, Washington.

A Pacific Northwest Plant of the Week (2013)