H. ‘Dahlonega’

Overview

Registered in 2014, *Hosta* 'Dahlonega' is a giant-sized cultivar resulting from a complex cross of (*H. 'Maekawa'* × *H. 'Choo Choo Train'*) as pod parent and (*H. 'Northern Exposure'* × (*H. 'Northern Exposure'* × *H. 'Manhattan'*)) as pollen parent. The plant is visually distinctive for its heavily piecrusted and deeply corrugated leaves, which are blue-green with broad, rippled golden yellow margins and a dull upper surface with glaucous bloom beneath.

In the Garden

This cultivar forms a large, mound-like clump reaching 50 inches (127 cm) in diameter and 22 inches (56 cm) in height, with a moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to dappled shade, where the blue-green leaf centers and gold margins hold their color without scorching. The substantial foliage and golden green scapes, which rise 27 to 30 inches (69 to 76 cm) tall, make it suitable as a specimen or accent in mixed shade borders, paired with ferns or other broad-leaved perennials.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, particularly in warmer weather, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Standard slug and deer precautions are advisable, as the large, corrugated leaves can be attractive to both pests in typical hosta-growing zones.