H. ‘Five O'Clock Shadow’

Overview

Registered in 2000 as a sport of *Hosta* 'High Noon', 'Five O'Clock Shadow' is a large cultivar distinguished by its reverse-variegated foliage: a broad, slightly blue-green leaf center with golden yellow margins. The leaf surface is slightly shiny above with a glaucous bloom beneath, and the margins are subtly rippled.

In the Garden

This cultivar forms a dense, moderate-growing mound reaching 22 inches (55.9 cm) in height and 36 inches (91.4 cm) in diameter. It performs best in partial to dappled shade, where the blue-green centers contrast well with the gold margins. The substantial leaf size and mound habit make it suitable as a specimen or in mixed shade borders alongside ferns, heucheras, and other medium-to-large hostas.

Care Notes

Water regularly during dry periods, particularly in the first growing season. Fertilize in early spring as new growth emerges. While typical hosta-growing zones apply, slug and deer damage may occur and should be managed preventively.