Golden Variegated Hakone Grass Uses

Golden variegated hakone grass, Hakonechloa macra "Aureola," is a Japanese native that garnered attention as the 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year. This shade-loving perennial grows best in moist, rich soils. Looking like a miniature bamboo, Aureola's yellow and green variegated foliage brightens rather than blends in with its surroundings. The plants provide a different look in the fall as their leaves redden. Use these color cues to find a place for this versatile grass in your garden.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEdging
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As a low-growing ground cover, measuring no more than 24 inches tall or wide, golden variegated hakone grass makes a perfect edging for a shady flowerbed. The plants will make a soft yet easily discernible border between a lawn or path and other plantings. Do take care that your edging gets enough shade and moisture to keep the leaves from browning up in extreme heat.
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Massing Aureola plants creates the illusion of a pool of light in a shady area. If building shadows or a dense tree canopy create dark recesses in your garden, add some contrast with several golden hakone plants arranged to form a solid patch of golden foliage. Researchers at the University of Connecticut found 50 to 70 percent shade produces the best Aureola leaf color. In heavier shade, the grass is a lime green rather than gold, so the effect won't be as dramatic if you have extreme shade.
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In their native Japan, golden hakone grasses grow on shaded mountainsides. For a similar look in your garden, use them on a wooded slope or in a shady rock garden. Some favorite companion plants for Aureola are hostas and any dark-leaved annuals or perennials that contrast with its bright foliage. The Perennial Plant Association suggests heucheras and tiarellas for particularly striking foliage color contrasts. Monrovia cautions that pairing Aureola with other golden-leaved plants, however, may "spoil its unique beauty."
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If you live outside of Aureola's comfort zone -- it is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 5 to 9 -- you can enjoy the grass in a container. The cascading leaves create a waterfall effect, and their tendency to ripple prettily in the slightest breeze make these plants particularly attractive in pots. It's possible to overwinter ornamental grasses such as golden hakone grass in containers. Cut the grasses back in the fall and keep them in a dark spot where temperatures range between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, advises Lee Randhava of the Chicago Botanic Garden.
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