Hakonechloa macra 'Lemon Zest' brings a striking golden brightness to shade gardens with its cascading chartreuse to lemon yellow foliage. The fine bamboo like leaves form graceful mounds that move gently in the breeze creating a textural focal point. Maintains color and form well into autumn making it ideal for woodland edges, shaded borders, and container plantings.
Height & Spread: 12 - 18 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Mid to late summer (insignificant flowers)
Light Requirements: Part shade to full shade
Soil Preference: Moist, well drained soil rich in organic material
Watering Needs: Consistent moisture preferred, especially in hotter zones
Deer Resistance: Rarely browsed due to grasslike texture and scent
Native Status
Hakonechloa macra is native to Japan and is not indigenous to North America. Its tidy habit and unique foliage make it an excellent choice for cultivated shade gardens.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Beneficial Insects
- Provides cover and refuge for predatory ground beetles and parasitoid wasps that shelter under cool foliage during hot summer days.
Birds
- Seed heads may attract small birds in late fall while the dense foliage offers ground level hiding and nesting habitat for wrens and sparrows.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Plant 18 - 24 in apart to allow for natural arching clumps and to promote air flow in shaded areas.
Landscape Placement:
- Effective along shaded walkways, woodland edges, or spilling from container gardens where its vivid foliage adds movement and contrast to darker understory plantings.
Companion Plants
- Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern) - Copper tinted new fronds complement the yellow green grass and provide lacy texture.
- Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' - Silver veined foliage provides bold contrast to the chartreuse tones of Hakonechloa.
- Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' - Arching stems with white edged leaves mirror the shape and tone of 'Lemon Zest'.
- Heuchera 'Obsidian' - Deep purple black leaves create dynamic foliage contrast with lemony grass.
- Hosta 'June' - Soft blue and gold foliage echoes the tones in Hakonechloa and provides bolder leaf shape for contrast.