Best considered a container plant. Longer leaves than Y. anceps with rough culms and longer rhizome necks forming a very open clump. Rather large diameter culms proportional to height. Tolerant of wet soils due to air canals in rhizome and roots. New growth is blue-green.
Mature culms have shorter internodes at the base that give a tortoise shell effect.
Once used for tuna fishing rods. Limb to half culm height to expose base for a beautiful effect. Great for a dense hedge. Aurea usually needs quite a lot of sun to turn gold, holochrysa on the other hand comes up green and turns yellow to orange after a few months. Often there will be a green stripe on the culms along with some leaf striping.