Japanese Forest Grass – Hakonechloa macra – 3 Varieties

Bring graceful movement and beautiful foliage color to shaded garden spaces with Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra). This slow-growing, deciduous ornamental grass features elegant arching leaves and distinctive colors, making it a lovely choice for pathways, rock gardens, waterways, and mass plantings beneath trees and shrubs.

Choose from three varieties: Aureola, All Gold, or Lime Zest.

Plants ship fully rooted in 2¼-inch clumps.

Choose Your Variety

1. 'Aureola' – Golden Variegated Japanese Forest Grass

Shown in the first photo.

• Gracefully arching golden foliage

• Thin green stripes throughout the leaves

• Beautiful bamboo-like appearance

• Adds movement and golden color to lightly shaded gardens

2. 'All Gold' – Golden Japanese Forest Grass

Shown in the second photo.

• Luminous metallic-gold foliage

• Solid gold appearance without the green stripes of 'Aureola'

• Slightly more upright growth than 'Aureola'

• Creates a glowing focal point in lightly shaded garden areas

3. 'Lime Zest' – Variegated Japanese Forest Grass

Shown in the third photo.

• Creamy-white and green variegated foliage

• Distinctive magenta stems

• Similar foliage appearance to 'Aureola'

• A newer variety with its own colorful character

Growing Information

Japanese forest grass is a slow-growing, deciduous ornamental grass that forms graceful clumps.

• Botanical name: Hakonechloa macra

• Plant type: Deciduous ornamental grass

• Mature height: 12–18 inches

• Mature width: 18–36 inches

• USDA hardiness zones: 5–9

• Light: Best in partial shade

• Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

• Growth habit: Gracefully arching clumps

Light and Foliage Color

Light conditions influence the foliage color:

• In partial shade, the gold foliage displays its attractive golden tones.

• In dense shade, golden foliage may fade toward lime green.

• In full sun, foliage will be mostly golden.

For the best growing results, provide moist, well-drained soil and partial shade.

Landscape Uses

Japanese forest grass adds texture, color, and graceful movement to many garden settings.

Consider planting it:

• Along pathways and garden borders

• Beside waterways

• In rock gardens

• Beneath trees and shrubs

• In mass plantings for a flowing foliage effect

• In shaded ornamental gardens

Shipping and Seasonal Appearance

Plants ship fully rooted in 2¼-inch clumps.

• Spring and summer: Plants ship with leaves.

• Fall and winter: Plants ship dormant and cut back without leaves. This is normal seasonal behavior for deciduous ornamental grass.

• One plant: Ships via USPS Ground Advantage.

• Larger quantities: Ship via Priority Mail or UPS.

• Free shipping to most locations.

• Larger boxes and shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, APO addresses, U.S. territories, and areas considered remote may require a freight surcharge.

Shipping restrictions: We can ship Japanese forest grass to all U.S. states except Hawaii, Utah, and New Mexico.

Add graceful golden, green, and variegated foliage to your garden with one of these beautiful Japanese forest grass varieties!