H. ‘Zounds’

Overview

Registered in 1978 by F. Shaw and introduced by P. Aden, *Hosta* 'Zounds' is a giant cultivar distinguished by its large, heavily textured green leaves with broad chartreuse gold margins. The leaf blades reach 12 inches (30.5 cm) in length and 10 inches (25.4 cm) in width, with 16 pairs of veins, and the plant forms a substantial clump 40 inches (101.6 cm) in diameter and 30 inches (76.2 cm) in height.

In the Garden

'Zounds' performs best in partial to dappled shade, where its gold margins maintain good color without scorching. The plant's giant size makes it suitable as a specimen or as a bold accent in the middle to back of a shaded border, where it can be paired with ferns, astilbes, or other shade-tolerant perennials. Its substantial leaf surface and upright habit also allow it to serve as a groundcover in larger woodland gardens.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Slugs and deer may damage the foliage, so monitoring and protective measures are advisable in typical hosta-growing zones.