A plant I fancy: Hakonechloa macra

'Aureloa' habit - Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder

Scientific name: Hakonechloa macra
Common name(s): Japanese Forest Grass
Height x Width: 24" x 24"
Growth rate: Seems to be slow growing, although may differ depending on variety/conditions
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained soil that is high in organic matter
Light: Partial shade

'Aureloa' detail - Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder

Reasons I like it:

• Does well in the shade
• Has a selection of varieties with different color options and variegation, everything from white to gold to pink
• Fairly unique - I haven't seen it all over the place

Where would I put it?

• On the west side of the house (Chimney Bed)
• On a slope in the woods
• On the slope under red maple

'Stripe it Rich' detail - Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder

I'm not a grass lover.  I always skip that section in catalogs and really have never paid much attention to it in the garden.  However, I'm willing to give Hakonechloa macra a try.  It seems to have a long season and be fairly low maintenance and it really seems like more of a foliage plant than a grass.

The variety 'Aureola' was the perennial plant of the year for 2009 and the publicity sheet (can you believe a plant has a publicity sheet?) mentions quite a few shade plants that combine well with Hakonechloa macra.  These plants include: hosta, heuchera (especially those with purple foliage), tiarella, astible, epimedium, wild ginger, bleeding heart and ladies mantle.

Do you have any Japanese Forest grass?  Would you recommend it for a shady slope?