Hosta ‘Guacamole’
Plantain lily
£10.95
Hosta ‘Guacamole’ is a stunning perennial prized for its vibrant foliage and delightful fragrance. This cultivar boasts large, heart-shaped leaves with bold chartreuse centres and wide, dark green margins, creating a striking contrast. Thriving in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil, ‘Guacamole’ typically grows to a height and spread of 0.5-1 metre, forming dense clumps over time.
In summer, it produces tall spikes of lavender or white flowers, further enhancing its appeal. With its captivating appearance and pleasant scent, ‘Guacamole’ is a popular choice for shaded gardens, adding beauty and charm to any landscape.
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Plant Biography
Plantain Lilies are deciduous herbaceous perennials and unrivalled stalwarts of the woodland garden. They generally conform to the same growth habit yet even the subtlest variations in colour or texture make them eminently collectable. Most varieties are best left to establish for a few years after planting to reach their full potential and character and given protection against slugs and snails.
Hosta ‘Guacamole’ has beautiful variegated leaves in shades of green reminiscent of an open avocado – hence the name. Lavender and white flowers are borne in summer.
Care & Size Guidance
Hostas can be used to underplant trees or shrubs, as they prefer a bit of shade throughout the day. They will happily grow both in loamy soil as well as clay where most of the plants would struggle.
Propagation of the clumps can be achieved through division in early spring or late summer. Divide the clump in multiple parts so that each fragment will have 2-4 growth buds. A mature clump can be divided after 4-5 years.
Planting Hostas
Hostas thrive in well-draining, rich soil which has a slightly acidic to neutral pH (around 6.0 to 7.5). Before planting, amend the soil with organic matter such as compost or aged manure to improve its texture and fertility. Work the amendments into the soil to a depth of about 30cm.
If the roots are tightly bound, gently tease them apart to encourage outward growth. Place the plant in the centre of the planting hole, ensuring that it is positioned at the same depth as it was in the container. Backfill with compost and keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged while it is getting established.
Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as shredded bark or compost, around the base of the Hosta plant to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the stem to prevent rot and fungal diseases.
A slug magnet
Hostas are a magnet for slugs and often fall victim to them, creating a challenging relationship for gardeners. Slugs are voracious nocturnal feeders (insert Hosta vampire reference here!) that can cause significant damage to Hostas, particularly by consuming their tender leaves.
Hosta plants are particularly attractive to slugs due to their succulent leaves and the moist, shady environments they often grow in. They can consume significant portions of the foliage, compromising the plant’s ability to photosynthesise and ultimately weakening it.
Gardeners often employ various strategies to control slug populations and protect their Hosta plants. These may include physical barriers such as copper tape or diatomaceous earth, which create obstacles that slugs are reluctant to cross. A more recent
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