Hosta 'Guacamole'

Good, colourful plants for shady spots in the garden can be hard to find, and this is where Hosta 'Guacamole' comes in. This recently introduced hybrid hosta grows into a strong mound of large, heart-shaped leaves – each with a blue-grey margin and an apple-green to gold centre. Could this colouring, perhaps, remind you of the skin and flesh of an avocado? The leaves are also softly ribbed, making them curiously tactile. If this wasn’t enough, the pale lavender flowers are large (like mini foxgloves), long-lasting and highly scented. Even though it has an exotic-sounding name, Hosta 'Guacamole' is in fact very much at home in a British garden, particularly if there is a shrubby or woodland feel to the setting. It is a special plant, which is why it holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit. For best impact, hostas should be planted in bold groups. Fork in plenty of well-rotted garden compost or leaf mould when planting, as hostas hate to dry out. And, from March onwards, it is a good idea to provide some protection from slugs and snails – perhaps in the form of a ring of crushed shells, or slug traps.