Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
August Moon Hosta: The Classic Gold Hosta That Handles Sun
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August Moon hosta is a classic gold hosta that has been earning its place in gardens for a long time. Its large, heart-shaped leaves are thick, wavy and corrugated, shifting from chartreuse in shade to bright gold in sun. Those thick leaves help it resist slugs, and it tolerates more sun than most hostas. In mid to late summer, many pale lavender, open bells appear on stems about 24 inches tall.
August Moon at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hosta 'August Moon' |
| Foliage | Chartreuse to bright gold; thick, corrugated, wavy |
| Flowers | Pale lavender open bells on stems about 24 inches tall |
| Size | About 20 inches tall, 42 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-July, peaks early August |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun, part sun to part shade, full shade |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Where it fits on a lavender property
Lavender's bed has to be sunny, lean and dry, and August Moon will never be happy in that soil. But because it handles more light than most hostas, it is one of the best choices for the in-between places on a property: a bed with morning sun and afternoon shade, the edge of a tree line or the east side of the house where the lavender would not get enough sun anyway. Its gold leaves glow at the boundary between your sunny and shady gardens.
Pale lavender flowers in late summer are a nice touch, carrying lavender's color into August after the field harvest. Pair it with blue hostas, ferns and dark coral bells. Plan the transition beds in the Companion Plant Planner.
Getting the gold you want
August Moon's color depends on light. In deep shade, it stays a soft chartreuse. With a few hours of sun, it turns bright gold. In full sun, the gold deepens further, but in hot, dry spots the leaves can burn, so keep the soil evenly moist and offer afternoon shade where summers are hot.
Care through the year
- Soil and water: evenly moist, humus-rich, well drained. More sun means more water.
- Slugs: its thick leaves resist them better than most, but keep mulch thin near the crown.
- Fall: cut the foliage down after hard frost to reduce slug eggs and disease.
- Spring: divide crowded clumps as shoots appear.
- Winter: fully hardy in Michigan; avoid soil that stays waterlogged.
Plug tray or bare root
August Moon is offered as a 72-cell plug tray for growers and mass plantings, and as a bare root plant for a home shade bed. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Can August Moon grow in full sun?
It is one of the more sun-tolerant hostas. In full sun, keep the soil moist and give afternoon shade in hot, dry sites.
Why are my leaves chartreuse, not gold?
That usually means more shade. A few more hours of sun brings out the gold.
Does it grow in containers?
Yes. It is a good container hosta with regular watering.
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