H. ‘Carolina Keepsake’

Overview

Registered in 2016, 'Carolina Keepsake' is a small hosta cultivar resulting from a cross between *Hosta* 'Corkscrew' (pod parent) and *Hosta* 'June' (pollen parent). The plant is visually distinctive for its bright yellow, narrowly ovate leaves with green centers and gold margins, combined with a very shiny upper and lower surface and a moderately twisted, folded, and lightly wavy leaf blade.

In the Garden

'Carolina Keepsake' forms a compact mound 8 inches (20.3 cm) tall and 14 inches (35.6 cm) in diameter, making it suitable for the front of borders, rock gardens, or small-scale shade plantings. It performs best in partial to full shade, as is typical for hostas, and pairs well with other small woodland perennials such as ferns, heucheras, or dwarf astilbes. Its small size also makes it an excellent candidate for container cultivation.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Carolina Keepsake' may be susceptible to slug and deer damage in typical hosta-growing zones.