A cultivar of Japanese forest grass which makes a splash of colour in the garden, Hakonechloa macra Aureola is a clump-forming, deciduous, perennial grass which forms a broad, low, dense mound of narrow, arching, rather bamboo-like leaves. They are butter-yellow, striped with green, appear in early spring, keep their bright colour throughout the season, and are often tinged with coppery red in autumn. The colour is best in partial shade, turning shades of green in full shade. Tiny, insignificant, brown flowers appear in summer. Golden hakonechloa is tough, easy-to-grow and very hardy. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soil: Any moist but well-drained soil
Position: Colours best in partial shade; tolerates full sun and full shade
Season of interest: Spring to autumn
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 14”’ (35cm) Spread: 16” (40cm)