Product Description
'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' Hosta (4) 1-gallons
Medium to Large.
Dark blue-green, seer suckered leaves with heavy substance display a unique cupped form up to 3" deep.
Demonstrates good slug resistance. White flowers appear just above the foliage on 22" scapes in early summer.
Tokudama x sieboldiana seedling.
Height: 18.0 Inches
Spread: 36 Inches
Scape Height: 22 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: White shades
Foliage Color: Green shades
Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun) to Full Shade (< 4 hrs. Direct Sun)
Average to Consistent Water Needs
Average to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Early Summer
Attracts Hummingbirds
Growth Rate: Medium
Hosta 'Autumn Frost' is a truly stunning and highly sought-after hosta, celebrated for its vibrant and ever-changing foliage. This medium-sized hosta features lance-shaped leaves that emerge a striking, icy blue with a wide, creamy yellow margin in spring. As the season progresses, the yellow margin gradually transitions to a crisp, pure white, creating a beautiful and dynamic display. The leaves also have a gently wavy and slightly cupped texture, adding to their visual appeal. 'Autumn Frost' forms a neat, upright, and mounding clump, making it a perfect choice for adding a touch of elegance and cool color to any shade garden. In midsummer, it produces tall, slender scapes topped with delicate, pale lavender flowers, further enhancing its beauty.
Details:
- Mature Size: 12-18 inches tall, 18-24 inches wide
- Leaf Size: 6-8 inches long, 2-3 inches wide
- Flower Color: Pale Lavender
- Bloom Time: Midsummer
- Growth Habit: Upright, Mounding
- Sunlight: Partial Shade to Full Shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained
- Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Planting and Care:
- Planting: Choose a location with partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil. Amend the soil with compost or other organic matter before planting. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball and plant it at the same depth as the container. Space plants about 18-24 inches apart to allow for their mature spread.
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry periods. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the leaves, which can increase the risk of fungal diseases.
- Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Avoid over-fertilizing.
- Mulching: Mulch around the plants with shredded bark, compost, or pine needles to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect the crown.
- Pest and Disease Control: Be vigilant for slugs and snails, which can be a major threat to hostas. Use appropriate control measures like slug bait or traps. Hosta Virus X (HVX) is also a potential issue; purchase plants from reputable sources and discard any plants exhibiting symptoms of the virus.
- Division: Divide clumps every 3-5 years, or as needed, to prevent overcrowding and rejuvenate the plant. Division is best done in spring or fall.
Special Considerations:
- 'Autumn Frost' makes a wonderful addition to shady borders, woodland gardens, or container plantings.
- Its striking foliage and ever-changing colors add a touch of elegance and cool beauty to the landscape.
- It pairs well with other shade-loving plants, especially those with contrasting foliage colors and textures.
- The white margin is most pronounced in bright, filtered shade. In deeper shade, the contrast may be less intense.
Border Plant, Container, Cut Foliage, Easy To Grow, Mass Planting, Specimen, Focal Point
(4) 1-gallon containers ready to plant, plants maybe trimmed for shipping,
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
