Hosta, Mediovarigata

Mediovariegata Hosta is one of the true classics of the shade garden, with the time-honored elegance of white-centered leaves edged in rich green that never goes out of style. The bold, two-toned variegation brightens darker corners and creates a clean, graphic contrast against the solid greens and textures of companion ferns, astilbes, and other shade perennials. A broader spread than its height—reaching 18 to 24 inches across on a 12 to 18 inch mound—makes it especially effective as a groundcover or repeated accent throughout the shaded border. Purple flower spikes appear in summer above the foliage, and the leaves take on warm copper-bronze tones as fall arrives. Its adaptable, steady nature makes it equally suited to a mass planting on a shaded slope, a container on a shaded patio, or a quiet spot at the woodland’s edge. Classic for a reason—once planted, you wonder how the garden ever managed without it.