Hosta 'Guacamole'
- In stock, ready for delivery
Hosta 'Guacamole': Chartreuse Glow, Late-Summer Perfume
A chartreuse centre with a dark green edge, like somebody scooped the avocado and left the skin on for presentation. 'Guacamole' also has fragrant flowers, which is more than THE DIP AT THE OFFICE POTLUCK CAN SAY.
Plant Characteristics:
- Botanical Name: Hosta 'Guacamole'
- Common Name: Plantain lily, hosta
- Height: 60 cm (24 in)
- Spread: 90â135 cm (3â4.5 ft)
- Flowers: Pale lavender, fragrant
- Bloom Time: Late summer (August to September)
- Foliage: Broad oval leaves with a chartreuse centre and dark green margin, slightly wavy and of good substance
- Features: Fragrant flowers, Hosta of the Year 2002
Where to Plant: The chartreuse leaves glow in a shady bed, so put it where you need some light: under trees, along a north wall or at a bend in a woodland path. Plant it near a patio or window too, because the late-summer scent is part of the show.
Companion Plants: Plant 'Guacamole' in a moist, shady bed with deep red hellebores, wild ginger and yellow ligularia spires. Helleborus HGCÂź Ice N' RosesÂź Carlotta opens deep red flowers at 30 to 50 cm from March to May. Asarum canadense carpets the front at 10 to 15 cm with heart-shaped native leaves. Ligularia 'The Rocket' rises behind at 120 to 180 cm with lemon-yellow spires in July and August. Hystrix patula adds a native bottlebrush grass at 60 to 120 cm in flower.
Plant Care: Plant it in rich, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. A bit of morning sun brightens the centre. Shelter it from strong afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves. Water deeply in dry spells, especially during its first year. Deer, rabbits and slugs all enjoy hostas, so keep watch. Remove the flower stems after bloom and clear the leaves after a hard frost. Divide in spring as the shoots emerge if you want more plants.
History: Bob Solberg of Green Hill Farm in North Carolina registered 'Guacamole' in 1994 as a sport of Hosta 'Fragrant Bouquet', which explains the scented flowers. The American Hosta Growers Association named it Hosta of the Year in 2002, and it later gave rise to 'Stained Glass', the 2006 winner.
Final Thoughts: Plant a big bowl of it in the shade. It won't brown, it won't run out and NOBODY WILL DOUBLE DIP.