Hosta 'Guacamole' is a medium-sized, premium shade perennial prized for its striking ornamental foliage and delightful fragrance. This variety rises 12 to 18 inches tall, showcasing broad, oval to heart-shaped leaves in a vibrant chartreuse-gold with irregular bluish-green margins, reminiscent of a ripe avocado. Known for its sun tolerance, Hosta 'Guacamole' has a brighter golden hue on its leaf centers when exposed to sunlight, adding dynamic color to shade gardens. In late summer, it produces very fragrant, funnel-shaped flowers in pale lavender to white, on tall scapes that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. These blooms will enhance the garden with their scent and make charming additions to mixed floral arrangements.
A hybrid of Hosta, commonly known as hosta or plantain lily, Hosta 'Guacamole' is a sport of the popular H. 'Fragrant Bouquet'. It is an herbaceous, rhizomatous perennial with an upright, mounding habit and a rapid growth rate. This versatile plant looks its best when grouped or massed in beds and borders, where its large, lush leaves provide excellent cover for fading bulb foliage. But, Hosta 'Guacamole' also makes a beautiful specimen or container plant and is ideal for edging garden paths or defining landscape spaces.
Cold hardy to Zone 3, Hosta 'Guacamole' is virtually maintenance-free, requiring little more than the removal of spent flowers. It thrives in partially shady to fully shaded locations, preferring rich, consistently moist, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. While it tolerates a wide range of soil types, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight to prevent leaf scorch. Plant Hosta 'Guacamole' bulbs 3 to 4 feet apart and 1.5 to 2 inches deep in the fall, as fall-planted perennials tend to establish more quickly and grow larger faster. Although this hosta is drought-tolerant once established, it's best not to let the soil dry out completely for extended periods.
