H. ‘Quesadilla’

Overview

'Quesadilla' is a sport of 'Guacamole' registered in 2010. M. Zilis is listed as originator, introducer and registrant and M.B. Vanous as the namer. The leaf is bright green with yellow to creamy white streaks and mottled areas, 10 in (25.4 cm) by 8 in (20.3 cm), moderately wavy and lightly corrugated. The registrant summed it up as a fast-growing, medium-large mound of streaked green, yellow and white foliage.

In the Garden

The registered plant is 45 in (114.3 cm) across and 22 in (55.9 cm) high, with a fast growth rate, measured on the original sport when it was four years old. The streaks are yellow early in the season and turn white by midseason. Flowers are pure white and tubular on scapes of 30 in, and the seed entry says it rarely sets seed.

How it compares

'Guacamole', the parent, is a gold-centered plant with a 0.75 in dark green margin rather than a streaked one. Its registry record gives 18 in across and 10 in high; the AHS Hosta of the Year booklet gives 24 in high by 54 in wide. The two come from different sources and are not directly comparable. 'Guacamole' was Hosta of the Year in 2002 and Benedict award winner in 2025; 'Quesadilla' has neither honor. Pick 'Guacamole' if a gold center with a defined margin matters more than streaking; 'Quesadilla' has the streaked green, yellow and white leaf. The booklet notes fragrance for 'Guacamole'; the registry records no scent for 'Quesadilla'.

'Stained Glass' is another 'Guacamole' sport and has a margined rather than streaked leaf: golden yellow with a 2 in dark green margin, registered at 32 in across and 15 in high, also with a fast growth rate. It was Hosta of the Year in 2006.

'Justice' is another streaked plant: a sport of H. nigrescens 'Elatior' registered at 60 in across and 24 in high, upright, with a slow growth rate and scapes of 36 to 60 in. Its registered height is close to the 22 in of 'Quesadilla'; the recorded differences are width (60 in against 45 in), an upright rather than mound-like habit, and a slow rather than fast growth rate.

Flowers and other notes

The registration records late flowers, mid-August to early September in Rochelle, Illinois, and notes that the plant rarely sets seed; it does not say whether divisions keep their streaking. For general culture, see our guide to growing hostas.

Sources: AHS Registry records for 'Quesadilla' (#4532), 'Guacamole' (#2394), 'Stained Glass' (#5350) and 'Justice' (#2955), hostaregistrar.org; AHS Hosta of the Year booklet, 3rd edition; AHS Benedict Garden Performance Awards by year (2026).