Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Old Glory Hosta: Golden Centers for an Easy Shade Walk
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Old Glory hosta is a bright, medium hosta with heart-shaped leaves that have glowing golden yellow centers and irregular dark green borders about an inch wide. Here and there the green feathers into the gold, so no two leaves are quite alike. It grows into a rounded mound about 14 inches tall and 2 feet wide and is easy to grow.
Hostas want shade and steady moisture, so Old Glory is a companion for the shady part of a garden, not for the sunny, dry ground where lavender lives.
Old Glory at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hosta 'Old Glory' |
| Foliage | Golden yellow centers, irregular dark green margins about 1 inch wide |
| Flowers | Light lavender trumpets on 24-inch scapes |
| Size | About 14 inches tall, 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, midsummer |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Part sun to part shade, or full shade |
| Wildlife | Flowers attract hummingbirds |
Massing it along a walk
Some hostas are specimens. Old Glory is a team player. Its medium size and steady color make it ideal for planting in a line or a sweep: along a shaded walk to the back door, around the base of a big tree or at the front of a woodland bed. Set plants about 2 feet apart and they knit into a continuous golden ribbon in a few seasons. Among darker hostas and ferns it works as a bright accent, lifting the whole planting.
On a property built around lavender, this gives the shady side a clear, cheerful line to follow. In midsummer the light lavender flowers on 24-inch scapes add a little nod to the sunny beds, and hummingbirds come to visit. Sketch the layout in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting a bare root hosta
- Timing: plant as soon as the ground is workable and the roots arrive.
- Prep: soak the roots for an hour or so and loosen the soil with compost.
- Depth: set the crown at soil level with roots spread outward.
- Water: water thoroughly and keep evenly moist until leaves unfurl.
Care through the year
- Soil: rich, humus-heavy, evenly moist and well drained.
- Light: gentle morning sun helps the gold glow; protect it from hot afternoon sun.
- Water: deep watering during dry spells.
- After bloom: cut spent scapes; divide crowded clumps in early spring as shoots emerge.
- Deer and slugs: both like hostas. Fencing and thin mulch near the crown help.
Frequently asked questions
Is Old Glory a good beginner hosta?
Yes. It is easy to grow and forgiving, as long as it has shade and steady moisture.
Can it grow near lavender?
Not in the same bed. Lavender's sun and dry soil would scorch it, and its moist soil would rot lavender.
How many plants for a walkway edge?
Plan one plant about every 2 feet along each side, based on its mature 24-inch width.
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