Hosta Shadowland® 'Autumn Frost'

Hosta Shadowland® 'Autumn Frost': Wide Gold Margins on Frosty Blue

Blue-green centres with very wide yellow edges that mature to cream, like a frost dusted it and forgot to leave. 'Autumn Frost' is compact and thick-skinned, which is more than we can say for SOME OF YOUR RELATIVES.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hosta hybrid
• Common Name: Plantain Lily, Hosta
• Series: Shadowland®, a Proven Winners® perennial
• Height: 30 cm (12 in), with flower scapes to 30–40 cm (12–16 in)
• Spread: 60 cm (24 in)
• Flowers: Light lavender, on scapes held just above the leaves
• Bloom Time: Midsummer (July to August)
• Foliage: Heart-shaped, blue-green centres with very wide yellow margins that mature to creamy white
• Features: Thick leaves, compact habit

Where to Plant: Its tidy size suits the front of a shady border, an edging along a path, or a container on a north-facing porch, and a few in a row make a bright ribbon through the shade. It tolerates black walnut, but protect it where deer and rabbits visit.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Autumn Frost' in a moist, shady bed with yellow epimedium, near-black heuchera and a big painted fern. Epimedium 'Sulphureum' opens bright yellow flowers at 25 to 30 cm in April and May. Heuchera FOREVER® 'Midnight' adds near-black foliage at 30 cm. Athyrium 'Godzilla' brings large, silvery painted fern fronds at 90 cm. Carex 'Evergold' edges the bed with arching cream-striped blades at 30 to 45 cm.

Plant Care: Plant in part sun to full shade, in moist, fertile, well-drained soil that's slightly acidic to neutral. A little morning sun brightens the margins, but shade from hot afternoon sun keeps the blue at its best. Water deeply in dry spells and mulch to hold moisture. Remove the flower scapes after bloom if you like a clean look. Clear away the leaves after a hard frost. Divide in spring when the shoots are just emerging.

History: Susan Lichacz found 'Autumn Frost' in 2007 at a nursery in Zeeland, Michigan, as a natural sport with a much wider margin in a tissue-cultured crop of 'First Frost', itself a sport of the classic blue 'Halcyon'. It joined the Shadowland® collection from Proven Winners®.

Final Thoughts: Perfect for pots and the front of the border. Hummingbirds and bees visit, critics don't. COOL HEAD, THICK SKIN.