H. ‘Lakeside Iron Man’

Overview

Registered in 2003 by Mary Chastain of Lakeside Acres, 'Lakeside Iron Man' is a large hosta notable for its very dark green leaf margins with a glossy upper surface and slightly shiny underside. The broadly ovate leaves, measuring 10 inches long by 7 inches wide with 10 vein pairs, have a moderately wavy margin and cordate base, while the leaf center is not variegated despite the registered color classification.

In the Garden

This cultivar forms a mound-like clump reaching 48 inches in diameter and 18 inches in height, with a moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, as typical for hostas, and its substantial size makes it suitable as a specimen or in the middle to back of a shaded border. The dark, shiny foliage provides strong contrast when paired with gold-leaved or smaller hostas, ferns, or shade-tolerant perennials.

Care Notes

Water regularly during dry periods, especially in the first growing season, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, it is susceptible to slug and deer damage, so protective measures may be necessary in areas where these pests are prevalent.