2010 Perennial Plant Of The Year

Bring glowing color, and graceful form to your shade gardens with Aureola Japanese Forest Grass. Like a soothing, cascading waterfall, its radiant yellow leaf blades with dark green striping arch out to create exquisite mounds. Fabulous with big leaf blue Hostas, spilling over walls and boulders, in containers or as a ground cover.

Though this grass does spread by rhizomes, it is not invasive and will not rapidly overtake its neighbors. When grown in part shade, the yellow tones in the leaves will be most pronounced. In deep shade, the variegation will be lime green. In the cooler days of autumn, the golden foliage becomes infused with shades of pink and red.

Hakonechloa is grown mainly for its beautiful foliage, though it does produce flowers. Tiny, inconspicuous flower spiklets appear in airy clusters in late summer thru early fall.

Hakonechloa prefers shaded, woodland environments where the soil is rich and loamy. This grass will not grow in poorly drained soil, heavy clay, or very dry soils. Part to full shade is best; full sun will scorch the leaves.

Plant in soil that has been amended with organic matter in partial shade to dark shade. In early spring cut back last year’s foliage to allow room for the new growth. Although it never needs dividing, you may divide it to create new plants. Plants may be divided in either spring or fall.

‘Aureola’ Japanese Forest Grass has won the prestigious award the 2010 Perennial of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association. The Perennial Plant Association is a group composed of growers, retailers, landscape designers and contractors, educators, and others that are professionally involved in the herbaceous perennial industry.