• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
Shade-Tolerant-Ornamental-Grasses-HERO.jpg

Shade Tolerant Ornamental Grasses

I am looking for a few shade tolerant ornamental grasses that will combine well with my hostas.

Hakone grass and ornamental sedges are both plants that tolerate moist soils and shade. They are rated hardy to zone 4 and some sedges survive in zone 3. Start with a few plants and see how they fare in your garden. The 2009 perennials plant of the year, Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' (Hakone grass) has chartreuse leaves with a narrow green stripes. Another variety of this grass, 'Albo Striata', has a wider leaf with a white strip. These look great with large leaved blue hostas. Hakone grass can take a few years to get established so be patient. Carex elata 'Aurea' (Bowles Golden) is probably the most reliably hardy of the colorful sedges. It has narrow yellow-green leaves. Carex morrowii 'Variegata' (Silver variegated Japanese sedge) has green leaves with narrow white leaf margins. These also combine well with hostas.

Related

Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars

Jan. 28, 2026
FREE WEBINAR: 
Past, Present & Future of Mitchell Park and its Conservatory, the Domes  
Register here

Feb. 13 - 15, 2026
PBS Wisconsin
Garden & Green Living EXPO

Madison, WI
More information

Feb. 18, 2026
FREE WEBINAR: 
Plants that Go the Distance
Register here

Feb. 25, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Flowering Houseplants

Register here

Mar. 5, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Start New Plants from Seeds, Cuttings and More

Register here

Mar. 11, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Save Money & Boost Your Growing Success with Bare Root Plants

Register here

Mar. 18, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Patio, Deck and Balcony Gardens

Register here

March 26, 2026
FREE WEBINAR: 
Getting Started Growing Vegetable and Flower Gardens
Register here

April 1, 2026
FREE WEBINAR: 
Growing a Bountiful Harvest 
Register here

May 6, 2026
FREE WEBINAR: 
Adding Native Plants
to Any Size Gardening Space

Register here

June 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR: 
Managing Your Landscape
with Pollinators in Mind

Register here

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter for the chance to win a Milwaukee Domes Alliance membership & merchandise!

ENTER NOW