Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa): Cultivars, Shade and Care

Key takeaways

• The Missouri Botanical Garden lists Hakonechloa macra for zones 5 to 9 at 12 to 18 inches tall and up to 24 inches wide, in part shade and “consistently moist, well-drained soils” (MBG Plant Finder).
• NC State rates it for dappled light, partial shade (2 to 6 hours of direct sun) and deep shade (under 2 hours), and warns it “may not tolerate the hot summers” of zones 8 and 9 (NC State Extension).
• Cultivar sizes differ by source: ‘All Gold’ is 14 inches tall in MBG’s record and 9 to 14 inches at the grower Walters Gardens, and the ‘Nicolas’ plant patent measured foliage about 15 cm (6 inches) tall at 3 years (US PP19,898).
• Rutgers rates Hakonechloa macra “A, Rarely Damaged” by deer (Rutgers NJAES), and MBG, NC State and UW all say its rhizomes spread slowly and it is not considered invasive.
• Illinois Extension spaces it 10 to 18 inches apart (Illinois Extension): 144 plants per 100 sq ft at 10 inches, 45 at 18 inches. Quart and small-pot plants were listed at $17.32 to $25.00 on Oct. 30, 2026.

What is Japanese forest grass?

Japanese forest grass, Hakonechloa macra, is a deciduous perennial grass that spreads by rhizomes and is the only species in its genus. It grows wild on wet, rocky cliffs and in moist woods of central Japan, including the area around Mt. Hakone that gives the genus its name, and forms cascading mounds 12 to 18 inches tall with leaves up to 10 inches long (MBG).

UW Extension places its home in the Tokaido district of southeast Honshu, where its Japanese name is urahagusa, and rates the green species hardy to zone 4 while most cultivars are listed to zone 5 (UW Extension). On the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, zone 5 means an average coldest winter night of minus 20 to minus 10°F.

Measure	Japanese forest grass (green species)	Source
Botanical name	Hakonechloa macra, family Poaceae; the genus has 1 species	MBG; UW
Native range	Wet rocky cliffs and moist woods, central Japan (Mt. Hakone; Tokaido district, Honshu)	MBG; UW
USDA zones	5 to 9 (MBG, NC State, Morton); species to zone 4 (UW)	MBG; NC State; UW
Height	12 to 18 in (MBG, NC State); 12 to 24 in (Morton)	MBG; Morton
Spread	12 to 24 in	MBG
Leaf	To 10 in long and 3/8 in wide, papery, bamboo-like	NC State
Flowers	Yellow-green panicles, July to August, often hidden by leaves	NC State; MBG
Light	Part shade; dappled, 2 to 6 hours or under 2 hours of direct sun	MBG; NC State
Soil	Humus-rich, consistently moist, well-drained; pH acid (under 6.0) to neutral	MBG; NC State
Growth rate	Slow	NC State
Deer	A: rarely damaged	Rutgers
Tolerates	Black walnut, urban air pollution	MBG
Award	‘Aureola’: Perennial Plant Association 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year	Purdue Extension

Which Japanese forest grass cultivar should you choose?

Pick by color first, then by light. ‘All Gold’ and ‘Aureola’ give the brightest gold but burn soonest in sun; the green species and ‘Beni-kaze’ hold up best in shade; ‘Albostriata’ grows tallest, to about 3 ft, and takes the most sun (UW Extension). The sizes below come from the Missouri Botanical Garden, the wholesale grower Walters Gardens and, for 3 cultivars, the U.S. plant patents.

Cultivar	Leaf color	Height x spread	Light and behavior	Zones	Source
Species (green)	Bright green; red to pink blush in fall	12 to 18 x 12 to 24 in	MBG: hardier and better in full sun than ‘Aureola’	5 to 9 (MBG); 4 (UW)	MBG; NC State
‘Aureola’	Gold with narrow green stripes; red to pink in fall	15 in tall (MBG); 12 to 18 in (Illinois); 1 to 2 ft x 2 to 3 ft (Walters); 2 x 3 ft (UK Extension)	Morton: foliage more likely to burn in hot sun	5 to 9	MBG; Illinois; Walters; UK
‘All Gold’	Solid golden yellow	14 x 18 in (MBG); 9 to 14 x 18 to 24 in (Walters); 12 to 15 in (Morton)	UW: more upright and spiky, slow growing	5 to 9	MBG; Walters; Morton
SUNFLARE (‘HABsf1007’)	Gold with burgundy-red streaks; chartreuse in low light	30 to 45 cm x 45 to 60 cm (about 12 to 18 x 18 to 24 in) at 3 to 5 years	Patent: vigorous; MBG: brightest with morning sun and afternoon shade	At least 5	US PP27,734; MBG
‘Beni-kaze’	Green; red and gold in fall	Up to 18 x 36 in	PP27,734 calls it less cold hardy and less vigorous than SUNFLARE, with a high rate of reversion	5 to 9 (MBG)	MBG; US PP27,734
‘Nicolas’	Green to yellow-green; orange and red in fall	Foliage about 15 cm (6 in), 24 cm (9.5 in) in bloom, 61 cm (24 in) wide at 3 years; 8 to 16 x 16 to 22 in (MBG)	Patent: dwarf, relatively vigorous	5 to 9	US PP19,898; MBG
‘Fubuki’	Green and white stripes; orange to bronze in fall	14 x 18 in (MBG); 28 cm (11 in) culm plus top leaf on 9-month plants	Patent: more compact than its parent ‘Aureola’	At least 5	MBG; US PP21,757
‘Albostriata’	Green with creamy white stripes	Up to 3 ft	UW: more sun tolerant and faster than gold forms; may be hardier	Not given	UW; NC State
‘Stripe It Rich’	Gold and white stripes	6 to 10 in	Smallest listed by Morton	Not given	Morton
‘Naomi’	Yellow and green; red-purple in fall	Similar height to ‘Nicolas’ (PP19,898)	Selected by the ‘Nicolas’ breeder in France	Not given	Morton; US PP19,898

1. Species (green)18
2. 'Aureola'15
3. 'All Gold'14
4. 'Beni-kaze'18
5. 'Nicolas'16
6. 'Fubuki'14
7. SUNFLARE18

Source: Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder records (description text where it gives a cultivar figure, otherwise the record header), checked October 2026 Walters Gardens and plant-patent sizes, which run smaller for 'All Gold' and 'Nicolas', are in the cultivar table above.

Show the numbers

	Max height	Max spread
Species (green)	18	24
'Aureola'	15	18
'All Gold'	14	18
'Beni-kaze'	18	36
'Nicolas'	16	22
'Fubuki'	14	18
SUNFLARE	18	24

Treat any single height as a midpoint. MBG’s header gives 1 to 1.5 ft for every cultivar, its own ‘Nicolas’ text says 8 to 16 inches, and the ‘Nicolas’ patent measured foliage about 15 cm (6 inches) on 3-year plants (US PP19,898). Kentucky, which gave ‘Aureola’ its 2005 Theodore Klein Plant Award, lists it at 2 ft by 3 ft (UK Nursery Crop Extension).

Is ‘All Gold’ or ‘Aureola’ better?

‘Aureola’ is the more forgiving plant and ‘All Gold’ the brighter one. ‘Aureola’, gold with green stripes, was the Perennial Plant Association’s 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year (Purdue Extension) and reaches 1 to 2 ft at Walters Gardens. ‘All Gold’ is solid gold, upright and slower at 9 to 14 inches, better for edging and pots.

How much sun can Japanese forest grass take?

Two to six hours of direct sun, mostly in the morning, suits most gardens. NC State lists dappled light, partial shade (2 to 6 hours of direct sun) and deep shade (under 2 hours) as workable (NC State), and MBG says foliage burns in full sun and loses color in full shade, especially on variegated cultivars (MBG). Full sun works only where summers stay cool (UW).

Climate or region	Light that works	What happens outside it	Source
Cool summers (upper Midwest, Wisconsin)	Light to heavy shade; full sun tolerated	In full sun, variegation bleaches to creamy white	UW Extension
Northern Illinois and Chicago (zones 5 and 6)	Light to moderate shade; partial sun, 4 to 6 hours	‘Aureola’ foliage more likely to burn in hot sun	Illinois; Morton Arboretum
St. Louis	Part shade	Gold striping turns lime green in deeper shade; leaves burn in full sun	MBG
North Carolina (mountains, piedmont and coast)	Dappled light, 2 to 6 hours, or under 2 hours of direct sun	Leaves scorch in heat if moisture is inconsistent	NC State
Hot-summer South, zones 8 and 9	Close to full shade	NC State: may not tolerate the hot summers at all	MBG; NC State
Grower rating, all cultivars sold	Part shade (4 to 6 hours of direct sun) to full shade	Not rated for full sun	Walters Gardens
United Kingdom (maritime)	Full sun, partial shade or full shade	Rated H7, hardy below minus 20°C	RHS

Leaf color tracks light, so the right spot depends on the cultivar. MBG reports that ‘Aureola’ striping shows gold in part shade in St. Louis and turns lime green in deeper shade (MBG), and the SUNFLARE patent describes burgundy-red streaks under higher light that fade to chartreuse at lower light (US PP27,734). Give gold or red cultivars morning sun.

Why is my Japanese forest grass turning brown?

Summer browning is almost always scorch: MBG and NC State both say leaves scorch in hot summers when soil moisture is inconsistent, and MBG adds that foliage burns in full sun (MBG). Fall browning is normal: the leaves turn orange to reddish, then light brown, and collapse for winter (UW Extension). Bare patches in spring usually mean slow emergence or frost heaving, not a dead plant.

What you see	Likely cause	What to do	Source
Crisp tan tips and edges in July or August	Sun scorch plus uneven moisture	Water to keep soil evenly moist; move to morning sun or dappled shade in spring	MBG; NC State
Stripes faded to creamy white	Full sun in a cool-summer climate	Move to partial or dappled shade	UW
Gold cultivar turned lime green	Too much shade	Give 2 to 6 hours of morning sun	MBG; NC State
Whole clump orange, then tan, in fall	Normal deciduous dormancy	Leave it standing; cut back in late winter	UW; Morton
No shoots by mid-spring	Warm-season grass; slow to reappear	Wait before replacing; new divisions also “sit” for several weeks	UW
Crown pushed out of the soil after winter	Root heaving from freeze and thaw	Press back in; put a thick mulch layer over crowns before next winter	NC State; MBG
Yellowing, sparse growth in wet clay	Poor drainage	Replant in raised, organic soil; NC State says it will not grow in poorly drained soil or heavy clay	NC State

Consistent water matters most in the first season. UW says the grass performs best in evenly moist soil, especially during its first spring flush and hot weather (UW), and Walters Gardens tells growers that Hakonechloa is slow to root, so water management stays critical until plants establish (Walters Gardens). Our drip irrigation setup guide covers a timer-run line for shade beds.

How far apart should you plant Japanese forest grass?

Space plants 10 to 18 inches apart, the range Illinois Extension gives for Hakone grass as a ground cover (Illinois Extension). At 12 inches on center that is 100 plants per 100 sq ft, and at 18 inches about 45. The grass spreads slowly by rhizomes, so tight spacing closes a bed sooner; RHS puts time to maturity at 2 to 5 years (RHS).

Spacing on center	Sq ft per plant	Plants per 100 sq ft	Plants for a 4 x 10 ft border (40 sq ft)	Plant cost at $18.99 per quart
10 in	0.69	144	58	$1,101.42
12 in	1.00	100	40	$759.60
15 in	1.56	64	26	$493.74
18 in	2.25	44.4 (45)	18	$341.82
24 in	4.00	25	10	$189.90

1. 10 in144
2. 12 in100
3. 15 in64
4. 18 in44.40
5. 24 in25

Source: GIR arithmetic: 100 ÷ (spacing in feet squared); 10 to 18 in spacing from Illinois Extension Round up to whole plants for a real bed. Values match the worked spacing table.

Show the numbers

	Plants per 100 sq ft
10 in	144
12 in	100
15 in	64
18 in	44.40
24 in	25

Bed area (sq ft)Pot size (prices checked Oct. 30, 2026)Quart or 3 to 4.5 in pot ($17.32 to $25.00)1 gal pot ($19.95 to $32.00)Spacing on center (square grid)12 inches10 inches (Illinois Extension low end)15 inches18 inches (Illinois Extension high end)24 inches (MBG maximum spread)

Plants needed

40

Estimated plant cost, before tax and shipping$695 to $1,000

Plants = bed area ÷ (spacing in feet squared), rounded up. Default: a 40 sq ft border at 12 in = 40 plants; at $17.32 to $25.00 per quart or small pot, $692.80 to $1,000. The $56.95 Garden Goods Direct 1 gal listing is left out of the range.

Plant price depends mostly on pot size and on whether the cultivar is patented. On Oct. 30, 2026, quarts and 3 to 4.5 inch pots listed at $17.32 to $25.00 and 1 gallon pots at $19.95 to $32.00, plus one $56.95 outlier. The top small-pot prices were for patented SUNFLARE, and most listings were sold out until spring.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Cultivar	Pot size	Price	Seller	Stock on Oct. 30, 2026
‘Beni-kaze’	Quart	$17.99	Great Garden Plants	Sold out
‘Aureola’	Quart	$18.99	Garden Crossings	Sold out
‘All Gold’	Quart	$18.99	Garden Crossings	Sold out
‘All Gold’	3 in pot	$17.32	American Meadows	Discontinued
‘All Gold’	4.5 in pot	$18.00	NH Hostas	In stock
SUNFLARE	3 in pot	$24.99	Spring Hill Nursery	Sold out
SUNFLARE	3.5 in pot	$25.00	Plant Delights Nursery	Sold out on page
‘Aureola’	1 gal	$19.95	Singtree	In stock
Species (green)	1 gal	$19.95	Singtree	Sold out
‘All Gold’	1 gal	$22.99	Mandy’s Nursery	In stock
‘Albostriata’	1 gal	$22.99	Plant Detectives	In stock
‘Beni-kaze’	1 gal	$24.58	ServeScape	Sold out
‘All Gold’	1 gal	$32.00	BB Barns	Sold out
‘All Gold’	1 gal	$56.95	Garden Goods Direct	Low stock

How do you plant, cut back and divide Japanese forest grass?

Plant or divide in spring as new shoots appear, keep the soil evenly moist through the first summer, mulch over the crowns before winter and cut old leaves to the ground in late winter before new shoots emerge (MBG). UW Extension notes that new divisions “sit” for several weeks while they root before putting on top growth (UW).

1. Pick the spot: 2 to 6 hours of morning sun or dappled shade, with afternoon shade where summers are hot, as in zones 8 and 9 (NC State).
2. Check the soil: NC State lists pH under 6.0 to neutral and high organic matter. A soil test costs less than replacing a bed of plants; in heavy clay, follow our clay soil guide or plant in a raised bed, since the grass will not grow in poorly drained clay.
3. Plant in spring, 10 to 18 inches apart (Illinois Extension), at the depth the plant sat in its pot. Purdue notes fall division also works (Purdue).
4. Water to keep the root zone evenly moist, especially during the first spring flush and hot spells (UW).
5. Before winter, put a thick mulch layer over the crowns to stop frost heaving (NC State); our mulch calculator converts bed area and depth to bags or cubic yards.
6. Cut the dead leaves to the ground in late winter to early spring, before new shoots emerge (MBG). Morton Arboretum leaves them standing through winter for interest (Morton).
7. Divide in spring just as new foliage emerges, every 2 to 3 years or when you want more plants (UW). NC State says it may take years before division is needed.

Can you grow Japanese forest grass in a pot?

Yes, and the cascading habit suits containers, which MBG lists among its uses (MBG). Winter is the catch: UW Extension says it will not overwinter in an exposed container above ground, so bury the pot in late fall or move it to a cool, sheltered spot such as an unheated garage (UW). ‘All Gold’ at 9 to 14 inches fits a pot better than ‘Albostriata’ at up to 3 ft.

Can you divide a patented cultivar?

Not for sale or for giving away while the patent runs. A U.S. plant patent gives the holder the right to exclude others from asexually reproducing the plant and from using or selling plants so reproduced (35 U.S.C. 163), and a patent lasts 20 years from filing (35 U.S.C. 154). Division is asexual reproduction. ‘Aureola’, ‘All Gold’ and ‘Beni-kaze’ are described as unpatented in the patents themselves.

Cultivar	U.S. plant patent	Filed	Granted	Anticipated expiration (Google Patents)
‘Nicolas’	PP19,898	March 31, 2008	April 7, 2009	March 31, 2028
‘Fubuki’	PP21,757	Dec. 7, 2009	March 1, 2011	Dec. 7, 2029
SUNFLARE (‘HABsf1007’)	PP27,734	Dec. 2, 2015	Feb. 28, 2017	Dec. 2, 2035
‘Aureola’, ‘All Gold’, ‘Beni-kaze’	None (“not patented” or “unpatented” in PP19,898 and PP27,734)	n/a	n/a	n/a

This section is general information, not legal advice. Patent status and licensing terms can change; read the plant tag and ask the patent holder before propagating a patented cultivar for sale.

Is Japanese forest grass deer resistant or invasive?

It is deer resistant and not considered invasive. Rutgers rates Hakonechloa macra “A, Rarely Damaged” in its landscape plants rated by deer resistance (Rutgers NJAES), and MBG says deer tend to avoid it. MBG, NC State and UW all say the rhizomes spread slowly and the plant is not considered invasive, and UW adds that cultivars do not produce viable seed (UW).

Hakonechloa does not appear on the federal noxious weed list (7 CFR 360.200), and MBG reports no serious insect or disease problems plus tolerance of black walnut and urban air pollution (MBG). Rutgers notes no plant is deer proof; none of the extension pages we read rates rabbit resistance.

Which “Japanese grass” is which?

“Japanese grass” points to at least 4 different plants. EDDMapS lists it as a common name for Japanese stiltgrass, an invasive annual weed (EDDMapS); Japanese bloodgrass is a red form of cogongrass, a federal noxious weed; Zoysia japonica is Japanese lawngrass; and Hakonechloa macra is the shade ornamental on this page. Check the botanical name on the tag before you buy or pull anything.

Name you saw	Botanical name	What it is	Status	Source or our guide
Japanese forest grass, Hakone grass	Hakonechloa macra	Slow, deciduous shade ornamental, 12 to 18 in	Not considered invasive	MBG
Japanese stiltgrass, also “Japanese grass”, Nepalese browntop	Microstegium vimineum	Invasive annual grass of shady woods and lawns; seed stays viable in soil up to 5 years	Invasive	EDDMapS; Penn State Extension; our lawn weed guide
Japanese bloodgrass	Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’, ‘Red Baron’	Red-leaved ornamental form of cogongrass	I. cylindrica is a federal noxious weed; a federal permit is required to move it interstate	7 CFR 360.200; UW Extension
Japanese lawngrass	Zoysia japonica	Warm-season lawn grass	Lawn species	our zoysia guide
Mondo grass	Ophiopogon japonicus	Grass-like ground cover, not a true grass	Ground cover	our monkey grass guide

A sprawling annual with a silvery, off-center stripe on each leaf is stiltgrass (Penn State Extension). Our ornamental grass guide compares Japanese forest grass with sun-loving clump grasses.

What grows well with Japanese forest grass?

Plants that share its moist, part-shade conditions and contrast with its fine, arching leaves. UW Extension pairs it with large green or blue hostas, ferns and mugo pine, and suggests dark-leaved heuchera such as ‘Obsidian’, ‘Plum Pudding’ or ‘Cathedral Windows’ to set off gold forms (UW Extension). NC State lists Brunnera macrophylla and Phlox stolonifera as plants that fill a similar niche (NC State).

Companion	Why it pairs	Source
Hosta, including ‘Sum and Substance’	Broad leaves contrast with fine blades; gold hosta echoes ‘All Gold’	UW
Heuchera ‘Obsidian’, ‘Plum Pudding’, ‘Cathedral Windows’	Dark leaves behind gold or variegated grass	UW
Ferns	Same moist, shady site	UW
Pulmonaria (green mottled) and Brunnera (green or silver)	Spring-flowering shade perennials with bold leaves	UW; NC State
Bleeding heart ‘Goldheart’	Gold color echo	UW
Astilbe ‘Burgundy’, ‘Queen of Night’ tulips	Dark flowers against gold or cream leaves	UW
Phlox stolonifera	Low shade ground cover in the same niche	NC State

Which claims about Japanese forest grass do guides disagree on?

Five points recur in care guides with different answers, and the primary sources split too. The largest is winter: Morton Arboretum says the grass stays standing and gives winter interest (Morton), while UW Extension says it does not provide winter interest and dies back to the ground (UW). Both cut it back in late winter or early spring.

Question	One source says	Another source says	What to do
Winter interest?	Stays standing; leave for winter interest (Morton)	Collapses; no winter interest (UW)	Leave leaves on until late winter either way; they shelter the crown
How often to divide?	Every 2 to 3 years (UW)	May take years before division is needed (NC State); rarely needed (Purdue)	Divide only for more plants or a crowded center
Is ‘Aureola’ the same as ‘Alboaurea’?	“Sometimes listed as ‘Alboaurea’” (UW)	Separate cultivars; ‘Alboaurea’ has creamy white, yellow and green stripes (NC State)	Buy by the cultivar on the tag; expect white in ‘Alboaurea’
Full sun?	Full sun, partial or full shade (RHS, UK climate)	Foliage burns in full sun (MBG); full sun only in cool summers (UW)	Outside cool-summer areas, give afternoon shade
Hardiest zone?	Zone 5 (MBG, NC State)	Species to zone 4; cultivars often zone 5 (UW)	In zone 4, plant the green species with winter mulch
Toxic to dogs?	“Nontoxic to dogs” (Almanac, no source cited)	Not rated on any extension page we read	Treat as unrated; call a veterinarian if a pet eats a lot

Where should you plant Japanese forest grass?

In a moist, well-drained, part-shade bed where afternoon sun does not reach it in hot-summer zones 8 and 9. Skip it in poorly drained clay, very dry soil or all-day sun outside cool-summer regions, where NC State and MBG both expect scorch or failure (NC State). The table and flowchart below hold the same logic.

If your situation is	Do this	Why (source)
Zone 4 winter (minus 30 to minus 20°F)	Plant the green species, not a cultivar; mulch the crowns	Species hardy to zone 4, cultivars often zone 5 (UW)
Heavy clay, standing water or very dry soil	Fix drainage and add organic matter first, or choose another plant	Will not grow in poorly drained, heavy clay or very dry soils (NC State)
Afternoon sun in zones 8 and 9 or another hot-summer area	Move to morning sun or dappled shade	Leaves scorch; may not tolerate zone 8 and 9 summers (NC State)
Under 2 hours of direct sun	Plant the green species or ‘Beni-kaze’	Gold striping turns lime green in deep shade (MBG)
2 to 6 hours of morning sun, cool or moderate summers	Plant ‘All Gold’, ‘Aureola’ or SUNFLARE	Brightest color with morning sun and afternoon shade (MBG)
Want a ground cover fast	Plant 10 to 12 in apart and accept 100 to 144 plants per 100 sq ft	Spacing range 10 to 18 in (Illinois)
Container on a patio in zone 5 or 6	Use ‘All Gold’ and move the pot to an unheated garage for winter	Will not overwinter in an exposed container (UW)
Heavy deer browsing	Plant it	Rated A, rarely damaged (Rutgers)

1. 1Is your winter low below minus 20°F (USDA zone 4)?

   YesPlant the green species, which UW rates to zone 4, and mulch the crowns; most cultivars are rated to zone 5.

   NoGo to the next question

2. 2Is the soil heavy clay, poorly drained or very dry?

   YesFix the soil or choose another plant: NC State says it will not grow in those soils.

   NoGo to the next question

3. 3Does the spot get afternoon sun in zones 8 and 9 or another hot-summer area?

   YesMove it to morning sun or dappled shade; NC State says it may not tolerate zone 8 and 9 summers.

   NoGo to the next question

4. 4Does the spot get under 2 hours of direct sun?

   YesPlant the green species or 'Beni-kaze'; gold cultivars turn lime green in deep shade (MBG).

   NoPlant 'All Gold', 'Aureola' or SUNFLARE 10 to 18 in apart in 2 to 6 hours of morning sun with evenly moist soil.

Source: UW Extension; NC State Extension; Missouri Botanical Garden; Illinois Extension

Japanese forest grass is one of few ornamental grasses NC State rates for deep shade, under 2 hours of direct sun; for full sun, our ornamental grass guide and fountain grass guide cover grasses that need it. More plant profiles sit in our turf and trees section.

Question	Short answer	Source
Zones	5 to 9; green species to zone 4	MBG; UW
Size	12 to 18 in tall, 12 to 24 in wide	MBG
Light	2 to 6 hours of morning sun or dappled shade; full sun only in cool summers	NC State; UW
Spacing	10 to 18 in	Illinois
Cut back	To the ground in late winter, before new shoots	MBG
Deer	A, rarely damaged	Rutgers