H. ‘Keel’

Overview

Registered in 2012, Hosta 'Keel' is a giant, mound-forming cultivar notable for its substantial dimensions and bold blue-green foliage. The leaves are broadly ovate with cordate bases, measuring up to 16 inches long and 13 inches wide, with a dull upper surface and a glaucous bloom beneath, accompanied by slightly rippled margins and moderate corrugation.

In the Garden

'Keel' reaches a mature spread of 71 inches (180.3 cm) and a height of 35 inches (88.9 cm), forming a dense, powerful mound with a moderate growth rate. It is best sited in partial to full shade, where its blue-green leaves hold color well, and pairs effectively with ferns, astilbes, or other shade-tolerant perennials that contrast its broad foliage. Its large size makes it unsuitable for containers and best used as a specimen or in the middle to back of a shaded border.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most large-leaved hostas, 'Keel' is susceptible to slug damage and may require protection in areas with high slug or deer pressure.