(AKA Aureomarginata, Gold Crown, Golden Crown, Obscura)

Hosta fortunei 'Aureo Marginata' features heavily-veined large (to 8" long and 5" wide) heart-shaped leaves with spinach to olive green centers and thin golden yellow margins (color shades vary with the amount of sunlight) that hold color all season. Intricate bell-shaped lavender blooms emerge in summer on 30-40" flower scapes.

It looks wonderful tucked against evergreens and playing off various flower colors. Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, less sensitive to environment than most other Hostas. Does best in rich, moist, organic soils in light, sun-dappled shade.

Fast growth rate, 12-16" tall, 18-24" wide. One of the few groundcovers that will grow under walnut trees.

General info - Hostas:
Hosta (syn.: Funkia) is a genus of about 23-40 species of lily-like plants native to northeast Asia. They were once classified in the family Liliaceae but are now included in the family Agavaceae by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. They are herbaceous perennial plants, growing from corms or rhizomes, with broad lanceolate or ovate leaves varying widely in size by species from 1-15 in (3-40 cm) long and 0.75-12 in (2-30 cm) broad. Variation among the numerous cultivars is even greater, with clumps ranging from less than 4 in (10 cm) across to more than 6.5 ft (2 m) across.

Leaf color in wild species is typically green, although some species (e.g., H. sieboldiana) are known for a glaucous waxy leaf coating that gives a blue appearance to the leaf. Natural mutations (sports) of native species are known with yellow-green ("gold") colored leaves or with leaf variegation (either white/cream or yellowish edges or centers). The flowers are produced on an erect panicle up to 31 in (80 cm) tall; the individual flowers are usually pendulous, 0.75-2 in (2-5 cm) long, with six tepals, white, lavender, or violet in color and usually scentless.

Hostas are widely-cultivated ground cover plants, particularly useful in the garden as shade-tolerant plants. Hybridization has produced over 5000 cultivars, those with golden- or white-variegated leaves are especially prized. They are generally easy and long-lived garden plants, relatively disease free, requiring little care other than watering and some fertilizer if you want to enhance growth.

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Zones: 3-9