H. ‘Lush Life’

Overview

Registered in 2012, *Hosta* 'Lush Life' is a medium-sized variegated cultivar derived from *Hosta* 'Ice Palace' (pod parent) with an unknown pollen parent. Its most distinctive feature is the combination of medium green leaf margins with a flat, nearly round leaf shape, prominent visible veins, and good substance that gives the foliage a substantial, durable quality.

In the Garden

This cultivar forms a dense, mound-like clump reaching 18 inches (45.7 cm) in diameter and 8 inches (20.3 cm) in height, with a moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, where its dull-surfaced leaves with cordate bases maintain their color and form. The 8-inch-long by 7-inch-wide leaves, with 12 vein pairs, make 'Lush Life' suitable for front-of-border positions, woodland gardens, or as a textural accent alongside ferns, astilbes, or other shade-tolerant perennials.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, applying a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Standard precautions against slugs and deer are recommended, as both pests may damage the foliage in typical hosta-growing zones.