H. ‘Lemon Zest’

AI-generated watercolor illustration of Hosta 'Lemon Zest' (not a photograph)
AI-generated watercolor illustration by The Hosta Farm — not a photograph of this cultivar. How we use images

Hosta ‘Lemon Zest’ is a registered cultivar () .

Year registered2009
Section classIV-3 (Small)

Overview

Registered in 2009, Hosta 'Lemon Zest' resulted from a cross between H. 'Shining Tot' (pod parent) and H. 'Gold Regal' (pollen parent). This small cultivar forms a dense, fast-growing mound of bright yellow foliage, with leaves bearing pale yellow margins that contrast with the green leaf centers.

In the Garden

'Lemon Zest' reaches 5 inches (12.7 cm) in height and 12 inches (30.5 cm) in diameter, making it suitable for the front of borders, rock gardens, or trough plantings. It performs best in partial to dappled shade, where the yellow coloration remains most vivid, and pairs well with small ferns, Heuchera, or fine-textured sedges. Its compact size also suits container cultivation.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, particularly during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Lemon Zest' is susceptible to slug and deer damage in typical hosta-growing zones.

This summary was generated with AI from the registry record and has not been reviewed yet; the registry data on this page is the reference. How we use AI.

Size and leaf

Clump height5 in (12.7 cm)
Clump width12 in (30.5 cm)
Leaf length4 in (10.2 cm)
Leaf width1.875 in (4.8 cm)
Vein pairs6
Leafpale yellow flat margins; slightly shiny on top; slightly shiny underneath; lightly wavy
Flower scape height14 in (35.6 cm)
Notable characteristicsminiature mound of bright yellow foliage

From the American Hosta Society Registry record.

Parentage

Similar cultivars

Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (IV-3, small size):

Related guides

Registration data: AHS Registry #3355. How we check this data.