Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Wolverine Hosta: Gold-Edged Leaves That Fill Shade Fast
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Wolverine hosta earns its name by moving fast. Its long, tapering blue-green leaves, up to 10 inches long with wide gold margins and wavy edges, cascade outward in layers, and the clump fills its space quickly. In August, lavender trumpet flowers open on 20-inch scapes just above the foliage and draw hummingbirds.
Like every hosta, it is a shade plant, so in a lavender garden its job is to brighten the other side of the house.
Wolverine at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hosta 'Wolverine' |
| Foliage | Blue-green with wide gold margins, wavy and lance-shaped |
| Size | 15 to 18 inches tall, about 40 inches wide |
| Flowers | Lavender trumpets on 20-inch scapes |
| Bloom | Starts early August, peaks mid-August |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Part sun to part shade, or full shade; some morning sun is fine |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Lavender color for the shade
Lavender plants need hot sun and dry roots, and Wolverine needs the reverse, so we never plant the two side by side. What it can do is carry the lavender theme into the parts of your yard where lavender will not grow. Its flowers are, fittingly, lavender-colored, and they arrive in August, after most English lavender has been harvested.
The gold edges are the real draw. In a dim corner under trees or along a north wall, those bright margins light up the ground like trim on a dark coat. Pair it with ferns and astilbe, which share its shade and moisture needs, and use the Companion Plant Planner to sketch the shade bed alongside your sunny lavender bed.
Where it works best
- Edging: a line of Wolverine along a shady path fills in quickly and looks uniform.
- Mass planting: its fast growth makes it an efficient way to cover a large shady area.
- Specimen: a single clump 40 inches across makes a strong focal point.
Planting and care
- Light: morning sun is fine, but hot afternoon sun can scorch the gold margins.
- Soil: rich and humus-heavy, evenly moist but well drained.
- Water: deeply in dry spells, especially in the first summer.
- Slugs: they chew holes in the leaves, especially in long wet spells. Room for airflow helps.
- Fall: cut the foliage down after a hard frost to clear slug eggs and debris.
- Dividing: split crowded clumps in early spring as the shoots emerge.
Discard any plant with mottled, streaked leaves, a sign of Hosta Virus X. Hosta foliage is listed as toxic to dogs and cats.
Bare root format
Wolverine is offered as a bare root plant, ready to set into a shade bed. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
How much sun can Wolverine take?
Some morning sun is fine. Keep it out of hot afternoon sun so the gold edges do not scorch.
Do hummingbirds really visit?
Yes. The lavender trumpet flowers in August attract them.
Do deer eat it?
Deer find hostas tasty. In deer country, plant it close to the house or protect it.
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