Golden Hakone Grass

The "Golden Hakone Grass"

It's the time of the year that you can't help but notice this week's plant of the week Hakonechloa m. 'Aureola', or commonly known as 'Golden Hakone Grass' or 'Golden Japanese Forest Grass'.  Reaching only 12-18 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide, this low maintenance grass has a low arching form that resembles a cascading bamboo!  The leaves are bright yellow with thin green stripes which become tinged with shades of pinks and red during the cooler days of fall.  And unlike most ornamental grasses, 'Aureola' will grow in sun or in the shade!  Combine this plant with the darker colors of hostas, coral bells, astilbe, etc, and those golden leaves will light up the somewhat darker areas of the landscape.  'Golden Hanoke' can be used in containers (will cascade over the sides), edging along a pathway, and is an excellent addition to an Asian style garden or to give a more tropical look and feel.  PS.  'Golden Hanoke' is not a favorite deer food! 

Our plant of the week is a large group of plants called 'Ornamental Grasses'.  Ornamental grasses are used in so many ways in the landscape - from bold specimens to mass plantings waving with the breeze, as a low groundcover or edging, in the border, as a screen, even growing in containers.  Some are used for their foliage colors, some for their plumes, flowers and seed heads, and many are used for their great landscape interest throughout the winter.  They work well with other plants, typically easy to maintain, and come in a wide range of heights, spread, color, and flowering times.