Guacamole Hosta

Bright Shade Foliage
Fragrant Summer Flowers
Large Clumping Habit

Guacamole Hosta

Sunlight
Can grow in a range from full sun to partial shade. They need at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
Watering
Regular watering schedule for the first six months. Once established, rainwater should be sufficient.
Fertilizing
Should not need any extra fertilizer unless your entire lawn and garden have problems and needs regular fertilizing.

Guacamole Hosta

Guacamole Hosta is a large, variegated shade perennial known for bright chartreuse leaves edged in rich green and sweetly fragrant summer flowers. Its bold foliage, rounded clumping habit, and luminous color make it a standout choice for shade gardens, woodland borders, and foundation plantings.

Why choose Guacamole Hosta?

Choose Guacamole Hosta for its fresh, high-contrast foliage and dependable garden presence. The broad leaves glow with yellow-green to chartreuse centers and darker green margins, creating a bright focal point in lower-light spaces. Its large, mounding habit fills beds beautifully without needing constant attention, while the fragrant summer flowers add an extra layer of appeal. This hosta works especially well in masses, mixed perennial borders, shaded entryways, and under open-canopy trees.

Key Characteristics

Botanical Name: Hosta ‘Guacamole’
Common Name: Guacamole Hosta, Plantain Lily
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Growth Habit: Large clumping mound

Guacamole Hosta Additional Information

Guacamole Hosta is prized for its broad, oval leaves with glowing chartreuse centers and irregular dark green margins. Leaf color is often brightest with morning sun or bright filtered shade, while afternoon shade helps maintain a fresh appearance through summer. As the clump matures, it develops a substantial, rounded form that brings strong texture to shaded landscapes.

In midsummer, tall scapes rise above the foliage carrying fragrant pale lavender to near-white flowers. The blooms add soft color and can draw hummingbirds and pollinators to the garden. Guacamole Hosta is deciduous, with foliage dying back after frost and fresh shoots returning in spring. Use it as a specimen, in drifts, along shaded walkways, or paired with ferns, astilbe, heuchera, and other shade-loving perennials. Remove spent flower stems and clean up old foliage after frost or in early spring.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant Guacamole Hosta in part shade to shade, ideally where it receives morning sun or bright filtered light. Set the crown level with the surrounding soil and enrich the planting area with compost for strong root establishment.

2. Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to help roots settle in. Once established, keep the soil evenly moist during dry spells, especially in sunnier exposures or beneath trees where roots compete for moisture.

3. Mulching: Apply a light layer of shredded bark, compost, or leaf mulch around the plant to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and create the rich woodland conditions hostas prefer.

4. Pruning: Cut spent flower stems after bloom if desired. Remove frost-damaged foliage in late fall or early spring before new shoots emerge, keeping the crown clean and ready for fresh growth.

Related Resources

FAQs

How big does Guacamole Hosta get?
Guacamole Hosta typically grows about 18 to 24 inches tall with a spread of roughly 36 to 48 inches at maturity, depending on soil quality, moisture, and light exposure.
Does Guacamole Hosta grow best in shade?
Yes. Guacamole Hosta performs best in part shade to shade. Morning sun or bright filtered light can enhance leaf color, while protection from hot afternoon sun helps foliage look its best.
When does Guacamole Hosta bloom?
Guacamole Hosta usually blooms in midsummer, producing fragrant pale lavender to near-white flowers on tall stems above the foliage.

Shipping Details

Estimated Shipping Time: Most orders ship immediately. As noted on the website, some items are seasonal, and may only ship in spring or fall. Once your order is shipped, you’ll receive an email with a tracking number.

Amount of Order	Shipping Charge
Local Delivery	FREE SHIPPING
Non-Local Delivery	Varies based on UPS shipping

Partial Shade
Lush Foliage
Flowering

Mature Height	1' - 3'
Mature Spread	0-5 ft
Growth Rate	Moderate, Slow
Botanical Name	Hosta ‘Guacamole’
Bloom Time	Mid Summer
Deer Resistant	No
Hardiness Zones	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Flower Color	Blue/Purple, White
Family	Asparagaceae
Light Needs	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Maintenance	Low
Size	#1 Container

Green map of the United States with state boundaries outlined in black, all states shaded in green, on a white background.

Growing Zones 3-9 Outdoors

(Hardy down to -40)

Compare Similar Products

Name	Vision in Red Astilbe	Rheinland Astilbe	Peach Blossom Astilbe	Walkers Low Catmint	Dutchman’s Pipe	Hameln Dwarf Fountain Grass
Rating
Mature Height	1' - 3'	1' - 3'	3-10'	1' - 3'	25' - 40'	3-10'
Mature Spread	0-5 ft	0-5 ft	0-5 ft	0-5 ft	10-20 ft	0-5 ft
Growth Rate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Fast	Fast	Fast, Moderate
Bloom Time	Early Summer	Early Summer	Early Summer	Early Summer	Mid Summer	Mid Summer
Deer Resistant	Usually	Usually	Usually	Usually	Usually	Usually
Family	Saxifragaceae	Saxifragaceae	Saxifragaceae	Lamiaceae	Lamiaceae	Pennisetum
Flower Color	Red	Pink	Pink	Blue/Purple	Green	Pink, White
Hardiness Zones	4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Light Needs	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun
Maintenance	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low