H. ‘Keuka Love’

Overview

Registered in 2002 as a sport of an unnamed parent, 'Keuka Love' is a large, slow-growing hosta distinguished by intensely blue-green leaves with pale yellow margins that emerge yellow and transition to blue as the season advances. The nearly round leaves, measuring up to 9.25 inches (23.5 cm) long and 9 inches (22.9 cm) wide, bear a glaucous bloom on both surfaces and 16 to 17 vein pairs.

In the Garden

'Keuka Love' forms a dense, mound-like clump reaching 24 inches (61.0 cm) in height and 50 inches (127.0 cm) in diameter, making it suitable as a specimen or accent in partial to full shade. Its substantial blue-green foliage with pale yellow margins provides contrast when paired with fine-textured ferns or golden-leaved companions such as *Hakonechloa macra* 'Aureola'. Due to its slow growth rate and large mature size, it is best given ample space to develop without competition from aggressive neighbors.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, particularly during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most large-leaved hostas, 'Keuka Love' is susceptible to slug damage and should be monitored in typical hosta-growing zones; deer may also browse the foliage.