Hosta 'Grand Tiara'

Hosta 'Grand Tiara': Rich Colour in a Refined Form

Lush and low-growing, Hosta 'Grand Tiara' offers vivid contrast with its deep green leaves bordered in wide, gold-chartreuse margins. More substantial than its 'Golden Tiara' parent, this compact cultivar boasts slightly cupped foliage and a dense, spreading habit. Lavender flowers appear in midsummer, rising delicately above the glowing foliage.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 30–35 cm
• Spread: 60–75 cm, forming a rounded, compact mound
• Flower Colour: Lavender
• Flowering Period: Midsummer
• Foliage: Deep green with bold gold margins; slightly cupped and lightly corrugated
• Sunlight Requirements: Partial shade to filtered sun
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil

Uses and Benefits: Hosta 'Grand Tiara' is ideal for edging pathways, tucking into shaded containers, or softening the front of woodland borders. Its bright margins catch light in dim areas, creating contrast and vibrancy under trees or along shaded patios. A vigorous grower with refined colouring, it makes a practical yet stylish choice for small spaces or massed for larger swathes of texture and colour.

Companion Plants: Pair Hosta 'Grand Tiara' with Tiarella 'Spring Symphony', whose finely cut, patterned foliage adds spring blooms and a lacy counterpoint. Add Athyrium 'Regal Red' to introduce height and cool-toned contrast with its burgundy-veined fronds. Frame the planting with Carex 'Everglow', a compact ornamental grass that shifts from green to glowing orange tones through the season.

Care Instructions: Plant in partial shade with moist, fertile, and well-drained soil. Provide consistent water during hot spells to preserve vibrant leaf colour. Clean up faded foliage in spring and divide every few years in early spring or fall to maintain vigour and form.

History: Hosta 'Grand Tiara' is a sport of the well-known 'Golden Tiara', selected for its more pronounced golden margins and slightly more robust stature. It continues the Tiara series’ legacy of colourful, compact hostas suited to small garden spaces and refined plantings.

Final Thoughts: With glowing edges and a graceful form, Hosta 'Grand Tiara' brings easy elegance and seasonal brightness to shaded nooks—proof that even small hostas can make a grand impression.