Guacamole Hosta Plants

Hosta Guacamole

Great plants for shadier spots can be tricky to find, and this is where Guacamole comes in handy. This exotic-sounding perennial is in fact very much at home in a British woodland setting, producing pretty flower spikes, a little like mini foxgloves but in the palest of lavender, in mid-summer. These last well and are beautifully scented, too. The foliage is the main selling point of this wonderful plant, however. The heart-shaped leaves are large and tactile, softly ribbed and a glorious rich apple green, with an outer edge of glaucous blue-grey that intensifies as the season progresses. Reminiscent of the skin and flesh of an avocado, perhaps? It is a special plant, which is why it holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit. 

Browse more Hosta varieties, or all of our perennial plants.

In the garden

Hostas really do create a very special atmosphere in the garden, one of lush green and contemplative calm. Which is why they're often used in Oriental gardens, alongside Japanese forest grass, evergreen ferns, acers and epimediums. A water feature among the foliage would be welcome, too. Plant in bold groups for the best impact, giving them some protection from slugs and snails - perhaps in the form of a ring of crushed shells, or snail traps. And always fork in plenty of well-rotted garden compost or leaf mould when planting, as hostas hate to dry out.

Hostas do well in pots too, as long as you follow the advice to keep them well watered, and don't put them in a sunny spot. Shade or semi-shade is the way with these fabulous foliage perennials.

Features

• Colour: pale lavender flower spikes
• Flowering: Jul-Aug
• Foliage: broad, heart-shaped ribbed leaves edged in darker green
• Height: 50cm
• Spread: 70cm
• Spacing: 60cm
• Position: shade or part shade
• Soil: moist and well-drained
• Awards: RHS AGM

Did you know

Guacamole is a sport of a hosta named Fragrant Bouquet, an RHS Award of Garden Merit holder famed for its beautifully scented flowers.

Hosta Guacamole prefers partial to full shade. Grows well in any fertile, moist but well-drained soil, as long as it doesn't dry out. Works well as ground cover in a woodland border.

Water well until established. Protect from slugs and snails. Removed faded flower spikes and tatty leaves. Divide congested clumps in early spring. Mulch with garden compost in spring.