The ‘Lady Guinevere’ Hosta is a favored perennial, celebrated for its distinctive foliage and elegant presence. This cultivar offers a unique blend of color and texture, making it a popular choice for shaded landscapes.
Distinguishing Features of Lady Guinevere Hosta
Leaf Color and Texture
The leaves of ‘Lady Guinevere’ Hosta are its most striking attribute, featuring a captivating blend of gold, green, and variegated patterns. They start pale green, transitioning to creamy white with distinct green edges, and can display a golden hue accented by bluish-green variegation. The foliage is elliptical and wavy, with pointed, ruffled edges, and its color intensity can shift with varying light exposure.
Size and Form
‘Lady Guinevere’ Hosta typically forms a dense, herbaceous mound of foliage. At maturity, it reaches a height of 30-50 cm (12-20 inches), with flower scapes extending to 50-90 cm (20-35 inches). The plant spreads to 45-75 cm (18-30 inches) wide, forming a substantial clump. This medium-sized Hosta maintains a fine texture, contributing to its refined appearance.
Flower Characteristics
In mid-summer, ‘Lady Guinevere’ Hosta produces delicate spikes of lavender or pale purple tubular flowers. These bell-shaped blooms emerge on upright stems, adding aesthetic appeal. While primarily grown for foliage, these flowers attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds.
Comprehensive Care Guide
Light Requirements
‘Lady Guinevere’ Hosta thrives best in partial to full shade conditions. While it tolerates some morning sun, especially to intensify leaf colors, protection from hot afternoon sun is recommended to prevent scorching. Too much direct sunlight can cause leaves to lose vibrant variegation or lead to browning. Consistent dappled sunlight or bright shade promotes healthy growth and maintains distinct color patterns.
Soil and Planting
For optimal growth, ‘Lady Guinevere’ Hosta prefers moist, well-drained, rich organic soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Amending heavy clay or sandy soil with organic matter like peat moss or ground bark can improve drainage and water retention. When planting, dig a hole that accommodates the roots, planting the crown just below the soil line and spacing plants 45-75 cm (18-30 inches) apart to allow for mature spread.
Watering
Consistent moisture is important for ‘Lady Guinevere’ Hosta, as it does not tolerate drying out. While actively growing, water frequently and thoroughly, ensuring water reaches the root zone. Mulching around the base helps retain soil moisture and regulate soil temperature, reducing the need for frequent watering.
Fertilization
Applying a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges supports robust development. A general-purpose fertilizer with an NPK ratio such as 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 is suitable if a soil test has not been performed. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can lead to soft foliage more susceptible to disease and may diminish variegation. Fertilization can continue every 4 to 6 weeks while leaves are growing, but should cease by mid to late summer to prevent tender new growth susceptible to frost damage.
Hardiness and Climate
‘Lady Guinevere’ Hosta is a hardy perennial, suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9. This broad range indicates its adaptability to various climates, tolerating cold winters and summer conditions. As a deciduous perennial, it dies back to the crown each winter and regrows in the spring.
Addressing Common Challenges
Pests
Slugs and snails are common pests that cause significant damage to Hosta leaves, leaving irregular holes. Early spring application of slug bait reduces populations. Cleaning up all hosta foliage in early winter, after dormancy, helps remove slug and insect eggs, reducing pest issues for the following season. Container growing also mitigates slug damage.
Diseases
Hostas, including ‘Lady Guinevere’, are susceptible to various diseases, with Hosta Virus X (HVX) being a notable concern. Symptoms of HVX include ink-bleed patterns along leaf veins, collapsed tissue, mottling, and puckering. While HVX does not kill the plant, infected hostas never recover and can spread the virus through sap. Destroy any suspected infected plants and disinfect tools between uses to prevent spread.
Other Issues
Leaf scorch, characterized by browning or crisping of leaf edges, occurs if ‘Lady Guinevere’ Hosta receives too much direct sun or inconsistent watering. Ensuring appropriate light and consistent moisture prevents this. Yellowing leaves not part of natural variegation might indicate nutrient deficiencies or excessive watering, requiring care adjustments.
Integrating Lady Guinevere into Your Garden
Ideal Landscape Placement
‘Lady Guinevere’ Hosta is a versatile plant that can enhance various garden settings. Its dense, mounding habit and attractive foliage make it suitable for mass plantings, border edging, or as a groundcover. It also performs well in containers. This Hosta is well-suited for woodland gardens or shaded areas where its vibrant colors stand out.
Companion Planting Ideas
Pairing ‘Lady Guinevere’ Hosta with other shade-loving perennials creates visually appealing combinations. Plants like ferns, Astilbe, and certain Cornus varieties offer contrasting textures and forms that complement its broad leaves. The lavender flowers can also be echoed by other purple or blue flowering plants, creating a harmonious color scheme in a shade garden.
Propagation by Division
‘Lady Guinevere’ Hosta can be propagated by division, a method that also helps rejuvenate older, dense clumps. The best time to divide hostas is in early spring as new growth emerges, or in late summer after flowering. Dig up the clump, gently separate the plant into smaller sections, ensuring each piece has roots and at least one “eye” or bud, then replant in prepared soil.