Images Depict Mature Plants
Guacamole Hosta
Hosta x 'Guacamole'
Guacamole Hosta is a bright, dependable shade perennial that brings a lot of color without needing flowers to do all the work. The apple-green centers and dark green margins give the leaves a fresh, layered look, and the fragrant late-summer blooms are a nice bonus. I like it near shaded walkways, in woodland gardens, or in containers where the foliage can be appreciated up close. Like most hostas, it may need deer protection, but its color and easy growth make it worth planning for.
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Apple-Green Variegated Hosta with Fragrant Summer Blooms
Bright Apple-Green Foliage for Shade Gardens.
Guacamole Hosta is a colorful, variegated hosta grown for its broad, glossy, heart-shaped leaves with apple-green to chartreuse centers and darker green margins. The foliage has a bright, tropical-looking glow that helps illuminate shaded beds, woodland gardens, and mixed perennial borders. Its strong variegation gives the plant depth and contrast, making it an easy way to add structure and color where flowering plants may be limited.
Fragrant Flowers Above Bold Foliage.
In late summer, Guacamole Hosta produces fragrant white to pale lavender flowers that rise above the foliage on tall scapes. The blooms add seasonal height and can attract hummingbirds and pollinators to the shade garden. While the foliage is the main reason gardeners plant Guacamole Hosta, the fragrant flowers are a valuable bonus that extend its ornamental appeal later in the season.
An Award-Winning Hosta with Strong Garden Presence.
Guacamole Hosta was named the 2002 Hosta of the Year and remains popular for its bright color, dependable growth, and versatile size. It typically forms a medium-to-large clump, making it useful as a specimen, mass planting, edging plant, container feature, or focal point in shaded foundation beds. Its bold leaves pair beautifully with ferns, astilbe, heuchera, hellebores, brunnera, carex, Japanese forest grass, bleeding heart, and other shade-loving perennials.
Best in Part Shade to Full Shade.
This hosta performs best in part shade to full shade, with morning sun or filtered light helping intensify the leaf color in many gardens. Guacamole Hosta can handle more sun than some hosta varieties when the soil stays consistently moist, but hot afternoon sun can scorch the leaves, especially in warmer climates. Plant it in moist, average to fertile, well-drained soil and mulch the root zone to keep soil cool and evenly moist.
Low Maintenance with Honest Pest Expectations.
Guacamole Hosta is easy to grow in the right site, but it is not deer-proof. Deer commonly browse hostas, and protection may be needed in landscapes with regular deer activity. Slugs may also chew hosta foliage, especially in damp shade. Keep the garden bed clean, remove old foliage, water at the soil level when possible, and monitor early in the season to help protect the leaves as they expand.
| Hardiness Zone: | 3-9 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 1.5 to 2 feet |
| Mature Width: | 3 to 4 feet |
| Sunlight | Part shade to full shade; tolerates morning sun or filtered sun with consistent moisture |
| Soil | Moist, average to fertile, well-drained soil |
| Water | Moderate; keep evenly moist, especially during establishment and dry periods |
| Bloom Time / Color | Late summer; fragrant white to pale lavender flowers |
| Foliage | Glossy apple-green to chartreuse leaf centers with dark green margins |
| Ornamental Features | Variegated foliage, glossy heart-shaped leaves, fragrant flowers, 2002 Hosta of the Year |
| Wildlife Value | Flowers may attract hummingbirds and pollinators |
| Resistance | Low maintenance; some sun tolerance; deer and slugs may browse or damage foliage |
| Landscape Uses | Shade borders, woodland gardens, mass plantings, edging, containers, shaded foundations, focal points, groundcover-style plantings |
How to Care for Guacamole Hosta
Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy Guacamole Hosta for years to come!
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How should I plant Guacamole Hosta?
Plant Guacamole Hosta in part shade to full shade where the soil is moist, well drained, and enriched with organic matter. Morning sun or filtered light can help bring out the bright apple-green foliage, but avoid hot afternoon sun, especially in warmer climates. Choose a site with enough room for the plant to spread into a broad clump over time. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, and water thoroughly. Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the plant to conserve moisture and keep the root zone cool, keeping mulch slightly pulled back from the crown.
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How often should I water Guacamole Hosta after planting?
Water Guacamole Hosta deeply after planting and keep the soil evenly moist through the first growing season. Hostas perform best when they do not dry out severely, especially while roots are establishing and leaves are expanding in spring and early summer. Once established, water during dry spells to maintain full, healthy foliage. Plants growing in containers, under tree roots, or in brighter light may need more frequent watering. Avoid constantly soggy soil, but do not let the root zone become bone dry for long periods.
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When should I fertilize Guacamole Hosta?
Fertilize Guacamole Hosta in early spring as new shoots begin to emerge. Use a balanced slow-release fertilizer, a light topdressing of compost, or an organic fertilizer suitable for perennials. This helps support strong foliage growth and a full clump. Avoid heavy late-season fertilizing, which can encourage tender growth. Healthy hostas usually do not need aggressive feeding. Consistent moisture, organic matter, and good shade placement are more important than heavy fertilizer for long-term performance.
When and how should I prune Guacamole Hosta?
Remove spent flower scapes after blooming if you prefer a cleaner look. The foliage should remain in place through the growing season because it feeds the crown and helps the plant build energy for the following year. Cut back dead foliage in late fall after frost or in early spring before new growth emerges. Remove damaged or slug-chewed leaves as needed during the season. Divide mature clumps in spring or early fall if the plant becomes crowded, outgrows its space, or you want to create additional plants.
