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Hosta Gold Standard

Plantain Lily

  • »  Popular, classic hosta; large, ovate leaves have dark green margins
  • »  Become more gold in early summer especially with morning sun
  • »  Pale lavender flowers appear on 30" scapes in midsummer
  • »  Forms a large mound, making it ideal as a specimen or in mass plantings
  • »  Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Attracts Wildlife
Attracts Humming-birds
Exposure
Full Shade
Partial Sun
Foliage Color
Green
Habit
Mounding
Season of Interest (Flowering)
Summer
Season of Interest (Foliage)
Fall
Spring
Summer
Soil Moisture
Average Water
Moist, Well-Drained
Growing & Maintenance Tips for Hosta 'Gold Standard'

Hostas grow best in moist, well-drained, highly organic soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Sandy loam is better than clay because it provides more aeration for the roots. High-filtered or dappled sunlight is necessary for clean, healthy growth. Morning sun is tolerable and will help to intensify the leaf colors, but hot afternoon sun is usually deadly to hostas. They are most at home in shady, woodland settings and often work well as specimen or edging plants.

Hostas are very easy to propagate through division. This can be done at any time during the growing season with little or no affect on the growth of the parent plant. Since each division should have at least 3 eyes, plants should be allowed to mature for several years before being divided.

Especially in northern zones, hostas should be mulched with a layer of finely shredded organic material to prevent heaving in the winter. Mulch is beneficial because it retains moisture around the plant's roots, but it is also the ideal place for slugs to hide. Watch for holes in the center of the leaves. If they are present, so are slugs. Applying a slug bait in early spring when new shoots are beginning to emerge will help to reduce the slug population. After a few years when plants are firmly established, the mulch can be removed completely, which should eliminate the slug problem altogether. Also be sure to clean all hosta foliage out of the garden in early winter after the plants have gone dormant. By doing so, you will be ridding the area of the eggs of slugs and other leaf-eating insects.