Description
Hakonechloa macra aureola, otherwise known as golden Japanese forest grass, is an ornamental grass that really stand out visually when compared to others. It has arching gold leaves and bright green stripes, making it a truly unique ornamental grass. However, this perennial clump-forming grass is a very slow-growing plant. The flower stalks are produced in mid-to-late summer and do not become very showy until fall when they turn orange or bronze. The cultivar does not produce viable seeds. It’s a versatile grass that seems to work everywhere. It’s short enough to be used on an edge or bank, and flashy enough to hold its own in a perennial border. It’s also well-suited as a container plant, since it maintains its size for many years and softens pots by flowing over the edges.
Japanese forest grass thrives in rich, fertile soil with an average to acidic pH (6.0 to 7.0). Heavy, wet soils and dry, sandy soils should be avoided. It should be watered regularly for at least the first year, kept moist but not soggy. If the soil is healthy and rich in organic matter, then the grass shouldn’t need any additional feeding. Dropped or rotted leaves should be removed in early spring to encourage new unhindered growth. Since it’s a slow-growing plant, there are no worries about it taking over a garden. Hakonechloa is essentially problem-free, with no commonly occurring diseases or pests. When it does present enough growth to divide, you can do so in either spring or fall. Its brightest gold colors display if it is grown in part shade, but it will tolerate anything from full sun to full shade. Full sun tends to cause browning at the tips, while full shade will cause the leaves to revert to all green.
Proud Products Guarantee!!
Plants from Daylily Nursery are guaranteed to arrive healthy and green. If you have any concerns or are dissatisfied within the first five days of receiving your plants, please email or call our office so that we can help make it right! Plants require proper care and nourishment to adapt to their new surroundings. Unfortunately, if your plants have received less-than-ideal care or were purchased for planting outside of your recommended growing zone, your purchase isn’t covered by our guarantee. Zone recommendations are provided in our listings.
Plants are delicate, living things and we take pride in shipping them thoughtfully, securely and with great care. However, once they leave our facility they may encounter issues in transit that we have no control or influence over. Please note that much of our plant material, while hardy, may arrive damaged or no longer viable if shipped in severe weather conditions. Exercise caution and use your best judgment before ordering during unusually hot or cold weather (below 32 degrees F, or in excess of 95F for shipping purposes), as these extremes may leave your plant vulnerable to damage. We are proud of our products and our reputation for providing excellent plant material. We strive to keep our prices fair and reasonable and to deliver to you the best product on the market, and for that product to arrive at our customers’ doors as pristine as the day it was packed. Please help us to ensure that you receive your plant material in peak condition and ready to plant.
Successful gardening requires careful planning, often full seasons in advance. Do your research and plan ahead for the best planting time in your area. Plants with delicate new roots need the best possible head start in getting established before winter, even hardy evergreen varieties. The optimal time for planting for most of our material is in mid to late spring, past the danger of hard frost. This allows your plants the longest possible growing season. Summer and very early fall are also suitable, as long as your plant is placed in optimal conditions and receives adequate water during the hotter, dryer periods of the summer. Late fall and winter are very risky in most areas, as our plant material ships from cozy greenhouses and will struggle adapting to very cold or frozen soil, or abrupt changes in temperature. This can easily cause damage, stunting, or failure to thrive. When in doubt about suitable planting times or zone compatible plants for your area, reach out to your local Agricultural Extension Office.
If issues with your plants arise within the first 30 days of receipt, please email or call our office. Our knowledgeable staff will review your concerns and provide guidance and troubleshooting, or a one-time replacement if necessary. The customer assumes responsibility for the cost of shipping the replacement.
Regarding orders placed for deciduous trees during their dormant period (winter or early spring) that fail to break dormancy by May 30th, we extend our guarantee beyond the five-day notification period. Please email or call us by May 30th so we can review your order and provide the necessary assistance. Please bear in mind that we may ask for photos- this aids us in assisting you with your plant. Often stress from shipping can be the cause of delayed development, which may be overcome with informed troubleshooting.
Plants are our passion and our business, and we take pride in building lasting relationships with our customers, based on reliably good service and trust in our product. However, plants are living things, vulnerable to unpredictable conditions and circumstances every day, just like people. We do our very best to provide top quality plant material, and with your help, we know that we can! Happy Planting!
