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Autumn Frost Hosta

Hosta 'Autumn Frost'

Regular price $3436
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Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: This Hosta performs best in full to partial shade, requiring no more than 2 to 4 hours of morning sun. Excessive direct sunlight will scorch the blue centers and bleach the bright yellow margins to a dull cream.
  • Soil: Aim for rich, organic soil that drains well but holds onto moisture like a wrung out sponge. If you have heavy clay, mix in several inches of compost or aged bark to improve aeration and prevent crown rot.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, provide about one inch of water per week to help the roots settle into their new home. Once mature, the Autumn Frost is moderately drought tolerant, but inconsistent moisture will lead to crispy leaf edges and smaller foliage. Deep soakings at the base of the plant are better than frequent light sprinklings, as this encourages a deeper and more resilient root system.

Pruning Tips

Since Hostas grow from a central crown, they do not require traditional pruning, but you should remove spent flower stalks once the blooms fade to redirect energy back into the roots. In late autumn after a hard frost, the foliage will yellow and collapse; cut the leaves back to the ground at this time to remove hiding spots for slugs and snails. This annual cleanup ensures a fresh and healthy start when the plant "wakes up" in the spring.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring just as the "pips" or new shoots begin to poke through the soil. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because this can force tender new growth that won't have time to harden off before winter freezes arrive. A single application of a general purpose 10-10-10 formula provides all the nutrients needed for that vibrant color contrast.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12 Week of March 2nd


Shipping Rates

Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
$199+ FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com

Description

The Autumn Frost Hosta (Hosta 'Autumn Frost') is derived from a line of champion Hostas! With unbeatable curb appeal, Autumn Frost is a low-care perennial that is perfect for gardeners of all experience levels! The purple blooms and broad, coarse leaves bring added interest and lush texture to the shade garden without taking up any of your time!

A showier version of First Frost, Autumn Frost has leaves that emerge a frosty blue but have extra wide bright yellow margins. These margins lighten to a creamy white during summer. Bell-shaped lavender flowers appear in mid to late summer, rising on scapes 16 inches long! Bees, butterflies and Hummingbirds will seek out these tubular blooms and you'll love adding a few to your bouquets indoors too!

Wonderfully easy-care, vigorous, and low-maintenance, Hostas are as cold-hardy as they are heat and humidity resistant! Thriving in a wide variety of growing conditions throughout USDA growing zones 3 to 9!

Planting and Application:

A great choice for any beginner gardener! They are perfect for shade gardens, mixed with other shade perennials. Use them as a groundcover, edging, and as underplanting beneath larger trees and shrubs. You will be very pleased with the mounding habit, striking foliage, and easy care of Autumn Frost!

Growing just 6-12 inches in height when in bloom and spreading nearly 2 feet wide, these big foliage ornamentals look great without taking up loads of space. Their bright bicolor leaves more than makeup for their size with sheer color! Ideal for tubs in the shade around your seating areas, and in patio pots and covered porches, the big bold leaves look great with tall sender thrillers or as a stand-alone specimen planting!

Autumn Frost is one of the most popular for landscape uses! You are going to love seeing these vigorous, fast-growing perennials fill in each spring from bare ground each year! So delightfully easy to grow, you'll want to create an entire Hosta garden to show off the amazing array of Hosta plants that are available at Nature Hills!

  • Wide Yellow Margins on Blue-Green Leaves
  • Margins Fade Throughout Summer
  • Lavender Flowers in Summer
  • Great for Cut Flowers & for Pollinators & Hummingbirds
  • Shade Gardens & Borders, Edging & Along Pathways

#ProPlantTips for Care:

High-filtered or dappled sunlight or even full shade is necessary for clean, healthy growth. The morning sun is best to dry the leaves of dew and will help to intensify the leaf colors, but the hot afternoon sun is usually deadly to these Hostas! These herbaceous perennials grow best in moist, well-drained, highly organic soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Provide moderate yet consistent moisture throughout the growing season and these appreciate a 3-4 inch thick layer of arborist mulch chips to help hold in moisture more consistently and help enrich the soil further. Deadhead after flowers fade, and clean the foliage away from the plant once it dies back in the autumn. Add a layer of mulch over the crown of the plants in the winter.

  • Performs Well in Full Shade to Partial Sun/Shade
  • Moderate Moisture Needs
  • Enriched Well-Drained Soil
  • Amazingly Easy-Care with Minimal Maintenance
  • Prune Back Late Autumn
  • Cold Hardy & Heat Tolerant

Add a touch of frosty beauty all growing season with the Autumn Frost Hosta for your landscape! Be sure to order this most popular Hosta with Landscapers from the experts at Nature Hills!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mature size and spread of Autumn Frost Hosta?

  • Autumn Frost Hosta grows 6-12 inches tall when in bloom and spreads nearly 2 feet wide. This compact mounding habit makes it ideal for edging, groundcover, or container plantings. Allow adequate spacing for its mature 24-inch spread when planning your shade garden.

Does Autumn Frost Hosta grow well in zone 3 or colder climates?

  • Autumn Frost Hosta thrives in USDA zones 3-9, making it exceptionally cold-hardy for northern gardens. This vigorous perennial emerges reliably each spring even after harsh winters. Shop at Nature Hills for this proven cold-climate performer.

What are the sunlight requirements for Autumn Frost Hosta – full shade, part shade, or part sun?

  • Autumn Frost Hosta thrives in shade to part shade conditions. This shade garden perennial performs best with protection from direct sunlight, which helps preserve its distinctive blue-green foliage with bright yellow margins. Plant it under trees, on the north side of structures, or in areas receiving morning sun with afternoon shade.

How much water does Autumn Frost Hosta need after planting?

  • Water Autumn Frost Hosta deeply once or twice weekly after planting, providing about 1 inch of water total. This vigorous perennial establishes quickly in zones 3-9 with consistent moisture. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged during the first growing season.

Is Autumn Frost Hosta deer resistant or do I need to protect it?

  • Hostas are not deer resistant and Autumn Frost will likely be browsed by deer if they're in your area. The broad, coarse leaves are actually quite appealing to deer. Use physical barriers like fencing or deer repellent sprays to protect your plants, available at naturehills.com.

When is the best time to plant Autumn Frost Hosta bare root or potted?

  • Plant Autumn Frost Hosta in spring after the last frost or in early fall, 6-8 weeks before hard freeze. This gives roots time to establish in zones 3-9. Spring planting allows you to watch the frosty blue leaves emerge with their bright yellow margins.

How is Autumn Frost Hosta shipped – bare root, potted, or dormant?

  • Autumn Frost Hosta ships as a potted plant during the growing season and as bare root crowns during dormant periods. This vigorous perennial establishes quickly in zones 3-9, growing 6-12 inches tall with a 2-foot spread. Plant bare root crowns in early spring for best results.

What are the care requirements for Autumn Frost Hosta in the first year?

  • Autumn Frost Hosta requires minimal care in its first year, thriving in shade across zones 3-9. Water regularly during establishment and apply mulch around the base. The vigorous perennial will reach 6-12 inches tall by bloom time in mid to late summer.

Will the variegation on Autumn Frost Hosta hold up through fall or change color?

  • The bright yellow margins on Autumn Frost Hosta naturally lighten to creamy white during summer and typically hold their variegation through fall. The foliage remains attractive until the first hard frost kills it back to the ground. Plant in partial to full shade to maintain the best leaf color contrast throughout the growing season.

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