H. ‘Color a la Mode’

Overview

Registered in 2000, 'Color a la Mode' is a medium-sized hosta resulting from a cross between *Hosta* 'Color Fantasy' and *Hosta hypoleuca*. Its most distinctive feature is the blue-green leaf center framed by creamy white margins that are streaked with dark green, creating a variegated pattern with slightly rippled edges.

In the Garden

This cultivar forms an upright, moderate-growing clump reaching 18 inches (45.7 cm) in height and 28 inches (71.1 cm) in diameter. It performs best in partial to full shade, where the blue-green foliage retains its color and the white margins remain distinct. The 8.25-inch (21.0 cm) long leaves with 10 vein pairs and a glaucous bloom underneath make it suitable for mid-border positions or as a specimen plant in woodland gardens, pairing well with ferns and shade-tolerant perennials.

Care Notes

Water regularly during dry periods, particularly in the first growing season, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Color a la Mode' is susceptible to slug and deer damage in typical hosta-growing zones.