H. ‘Golden Melody’

Overview

Registered in 2001, *Hosta* 'Golden Melody' is a sport of *Hosta* 'Summer Music' that produces broadly ovate, green leaves with greenish-yellow flat margins and deeply impressed veins. The cultivar is visually distinctive for its heavy-substance foliage, moderate leaf waviness, and light lavender flowers marked with a deep lavender patterned eye.

In the Garden

'Golden Melody' forms a medium-sized, fast-growing mound reaching 18 inches (45.7 cm) in height and 40 inches (101.6 cm) in diameter. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical for hostas, and its substantial leaves tolerate moderate sun exposure if soil moisture is consistent. The plant's broad mound and green-and-gold variegation pair well with ferns, heucheras, and other shade perennials; its medium size makes it suitable for border middles or massed ground cover.

Care Notes

Water regularly to maintain even soil moisture, especially during dry periods. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Slugs may damage young foliage, though the heavy leaf substance offers some resistance; deer will browse the leaves if accessible.