H. ‘Gold Braid’

Overview

Registered in 2004, *Hosta* 'Gold Braid' is a small-sized cultivar derived from *H.* 'Starboard Light' as seed parent, with pollen parent unknown. It is visually distinctive for its blue-green leaves edged with gold margins and a notable iridescent quality, combined with a compact, mound-like habit.

In the Garden

'Gold Braid' reaches a mature spread of 18 inches (45.7 cm) and a height of 12 inches (30.5 cm), forming a dense mound with moderate growth rate. Its small, ovate leaves (6 inches long, 4 inches wide) with slightly rippled yellow margins and light corrugation make it suitable for shaded borders, rock gardens, or the front of woodland beds. It pairs well with other small hostas or fine-textured shade perennials such as ferns or heucheras, and its compact size lends itself to container cultivation in typical hosta-growing zones.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Gold Braid' is susceptible to slug and deer damage, so appropriate deterrents may be necessary in areas where these pests are prevalent.