More Hosta Replacement Project Candidates - Guacamole Hostas - January 2026

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A couple of my backyard 'garden edits' involved what I termed the "Hosta Replacement Project" - where I yanked out some hostas and replaced them with something else that persisted in the winter (grasses, astilbes, etc).   I moved a bunch of them out, but there are many more left in place.  Perhaps, another section of the great 'hosta replacement project' could be one of my potential "2026 priority projects"?  I'm not convinced.  But, like Paul Graham has said:  writing helps you understand what you actually think.  As he put it, "Writing about something, even something you know well, usually shows you that you didn't know it as well as you thought."

Below is a photo showing the northside bed that is about half-way back (behind the picnic table).  The thing you see standing tall and proud are those white stalks.  Those are hosta flower stalks that are hanging around after the foliage disappeared when the perennial went dormant.  

Add this to my early, early look at projects?  There are some Astilbes and Lungwort at the front of this border (iirc), backed by those hostas.   Based on this post from 2021, I'm pretty sure these are Guacamole Hostas along with some other ones mixed in.  

I'll probably wait for the tips to emerge to think about transplanting these, but my initial thinking is to keep moving them 'back' towards the Yew Hedge.  

What could I replace them with?  If I follow my own rules and lean into repetition (and legibility), the choices would narrow to things that I already have in the garden.

That means for medium-height:  Sun King Japanese Aralias, Ghost Ferns.  

For shorter-height:  Autumn Ferns, Macra Grasses, Astilbes, Lady's Mantle, Seslarias.

For groundcover:  Ajuga.

For Annuals:  White Polka Dot plant

What could that look like?

3-4 Sun Kings mid-Border.  8-10 Ferns, Seslarias, Macra Grasses behind.  

Like this:

That's without getting nuts and ripping out whatever is there in front of the existing hostas.   Which, at this point, seems sensible.  Since, I haven't even completed my other 'garden edits' from previous years.  

Does this rise up to be a priority?  I'm not sure it does.  Maybe down the list?  Why?  Because the hostas are HERE ALREADY.  

Focus, Jake.  Focus. 


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