H. ‘Palace Guard’

Overview

Registered in 2011, *Hosta* 'Palace Guard' is a medium-sized cultivar of unknown pollen parentage, with *Hosta* 'Ice Palace' as its pod parent. It is visually distinctive for its nearly round, heavily corrugated blue-green leaves with flat margins and dull surfaces, forming a compact, mound-like habit.

In the Garden

'Palace Guard' reaches a mature diameter of 23 inches (58.4 cm) and a height of 7 inches (17.8 cm), with scapes rising 24 to 26 inches (61.0 to 66.0 cm) above the foliage. It is best suited to partial to full shade, as typical for blue-leaved hostas, where its heavy leaf substance helps resist sun scald. Its moderate growth rate and tidy mound form make it appropriate for border fronts, rock gardens, or as a groundcover beneath deciduous trees; companion plants such as ferns, heucheras, or small shade-tolerant perennials complement its blue-green foliage.

Care Notes

Water regularly during dry periods to maintain even soil moisture, and apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. While the heavy leaf substance provides some resistance to slugs and snails, standard preventive measures may still be necessary in damp conditions; deer may browse the foliage.