Hosta Avocado - a detailed description of the variety
Funkia, or hosta, Avocado is a perennial ornamental plant in the Asparagus family. It is a sport from the Guacamole variety and has been known since 1998 (originated by Jane and Bernie Diesen). Due to its unpretentiousness and shade tolerance, the perennial is very popular in landscape design.
Hosta avocado
Description of the variety
The Avocado host is a large, rapidly growing host. It reaches 60-80 cm in height, 70-120 cm in width. The plant has large oval leaves (25 cm by 15-20 cm) with veins and a sharp tip.
The leaves are dense and convex, bright green in the center, darker at the edges. Thanks to their shape and color, they really resemble avocado fruits.
Bell-shaped flowers, collected in racemose inflorescences. They are usually white, pinkish, or light purple.
Flowering occurs in August and is accompanied by a pleasant, rich aroma.
Landing features
This hosta is unpretentious to the soil, but most of all he loves moist, fertile soils without stagnant water. The flower prefers partial shade, but can grow in full shade.
Before planting several plants, the site is dug up, mixing the earth with humus. If 1-2 specimens are planted, compost or mineral fertilizers are applied directly into the hole.
The distance between seedlings should be at least 50-70 cm.
Technology:
- The planting hole is dug a little wider and deeper than the earthen coma or the hosta root system.
- Drainage from broken brick or crushed stone is laid at the bottom, soil mixture is poured and poured with a bucket of water.
- The plant is placed in a pit, the roots are straightened, covered with earth and tamped.
- From above, watered and mulched again with pine bark.
Care
The function is completely maintenance-free. It is hardy and can grow in almost any environment.
Hosta avocado description
It does not need autumn pruning - only the removal of dried peduncles. Sometimes it is formed by cutting off the inflorescences to create a beautiful rosette of leaves. This flower is frost-resistant and does not require shelter for the winter.
Following a few simple rules will help you grow a healthy and truly ornamental plant.
Watering
It is good if regular watering maintains a moderate soil moisture. The plant will delight you with lush leaves, intense green color and excellent growth.
It is especially important to water the young funky on time. Adult hosts tolerate temporary droughts much better.
Top dressing and mulching
The host can grow without additional fertilizing, but reacts very gratefully to them, turning into a lush bush. Fertilizers are applied to the soil during planting and this is enough for the entire season.
In spring and autumn, the plant is mulched with compost or other organic matter, which makes it easier to care for and provides the flower with nutrients.
Reproduction
The function is propagated by cuttings and dividing the bush. Cuttings can be cut in spring or summer: cut off shoots with a heel, from which the lower leaves are removed, and deepened into moist soil in partial shade. They are covered with plastic bottles on top.After 2-3 weeks, rooting takes place and at first the drooping leaves rise.
Hosta avocado photo
The division of the bush is carried out in April or September. Funkia is dug up and divided into several parts, so that each one has one or two leaf rosettes. The plots are planted in moist soil and mulched with compost.
Diseases and pests
Function The avocado is resistant to diseases and pests. However, its lush leaves often attract slugs, which gnaw ugly holes in them. You can fight them with drugs based on metaldehyde.
When waterlogged, the flower can get sick with rot, which manifests itself in wilting of leaves, darkening and thinning of the stems. In this case, the affected parts are cut off, and the healthy ones are treated with a fungicide. The plant is transplanted to another place, making a mound and putting in good drainage.
Use in landscape design
High decorativeness, unpretentiousness and shade tolerance contribute to the increasing popularity of the Avocado function in landscape design.
Hosta avocado characteristics and photos
Growing in shade does not diminish the beauty of the flower, which cannot be said for many other plants. In one place, it can grow up to 10 years or more.
This hosta is often used in rocky gardens and alpine slides. It looks great next to water bodies, in mixborders, group and single plantings. The function is suitable for growing living borders, and its spectacular leaves are often used to create beautiful bouquets and flower arrangements.