H. ‘Lake Michigan’

Overview

Registered in 2001, *Hosta* 'Lake Michigan' is a medium-sized cultivar of unknown pollen parentage, with *H. sieboldii* 'Naugoku' as the pod parent. It is visually distinctive for its glossy, blue-green foliage with dark green flat margins, a glaucous bloom on the leaf undersides, and lavender petioles that contrast with the leaf color.

In the Garden

This cultivar forms a dense, mound-like clump reaching 14 inches (35.6 cm) in height and 30 inches (76.2 cm) in diameter, with a fast growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical of hostas, and its medium size makes it suitable for mid-border positions or as a groundcover in shaded beds. The glossy leaves pair well with ferns, heucheras, or other shade-tolerant perennials.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. The thick, glossy leaves offer moderate resistance to slugs, though standard slug control measures may still be needed in damp conditions. Deer may browse the foliage.