Skip to main content
Hosta × 'Liberty' (Liberty Hosta)
1 / 5
© Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, some rights reserved (CC-BY) · Wikimedia Commons
Perennials

Hosta 'Liberty'

Liberty Hosta

Asparagaceae
Garden hybrid; sport (mutation) of Hosta 'Sagae'

At a Glance

TypePerennial
HabitClumping
FoliageDeciduous
Height18-24 inches (45-60 cm)
Width36-48 inches (90-120 cm)
Maturity6 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 8
Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts PollinatorsAttracts HummingbirdsContainer Friendly
Maintenancelow

Overview

Hosta x 'Liberty' is Liberty hosta (gold-edged green hosta), a large clumping perennial growing 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) tall and 36-48 inches (90-120 cm) wide. Thick-substanced corrugated leaves 9-12 inches (23-30 cm) long with a dark green center and very wide creamy-yellow to gold margins that widen over the growing season — the margin starts creamy-yellow in spring and matures to gold by midsummer. Pale lavender bell-shaped flowers 1.5 inches (4 cm) on scapes 30-36 inches (75-90 cm) tall in July. In Asparagaceae. Sport (mutation) of Hosta 'Sagae'. 2012 American Hosta Growers Association Hosta of the Year. The foliage goes dormant (dies to the ground) after the first hard frost — the winter gap is a limitation in year-round shade gardens. Slow to reach full size: 4-6 years to a mature clump. Slugs and snails are the primary foliage pests. Not deer-resistant — deer browse hostas readily. Morning sun (2-4 hours) intensifies the gold margin color, but afternoon sun scorches the leaves — site in morning sun with afternoon shade. Toxic to dogs and cats (contains saponins). Part shade to full shade. Zones 3-8. Growth rate is slow.

Native Range

Garden hybrid. Sport (mutation) of Hosta 'Sagae'.

Suggested Uses

Grown in shade gardens, woodland borders, and containers of at least 10 gallons (38 L). Large specimen hosta — 36-48 inches (90-120 cm) wide at maturity. Morning sun with afternoon shade. Not deer-resistant. Toxic to pets. Zones 3-8.

How to Identify

Identified by a large clump of thick corrugated leaves with a dark green center and very wide gold margins (the widest margin of any commonly grown Hosta). The margin widens over the season from creamy-yellow to gold. Distinguished from H. 'Sagae' (the parent) by the wider gold margin. In Asparagaceae.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 2'
Width/Spread3' - 4'

Reaches mature size in approximately 6 years

Colors

Flower Colors

lavender

Foliage Colors

dark green
gold
yellow

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Summer
Midsummer (July). Pale lavender bell-shaped flowers 1.5 inches (4 cm) on scapes 30-36 inches (75-90 cm). 3 weeks of bloom. Hummingbird-visited. The foliage is the primary display — not the flowers.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Pale lavender, bell-shaped, 1.5 inches (4 cm) long, on scapes 30-36 inches (75-90 cm) tall

Foliage Description

Dark green center with very wide creamy-yellow to gold margins that widen over the growing season; thick-substanced corrugated leaves 9-12 inches (23-30 cm) long; the margin starts creamy-yellow in spring and matures to gold by midsummer

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Partial ShadeFull Shade
Requires 2-4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loam
Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

4-6 years to full clump size

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Part shade to full shade (2-4 hours morning sun). Rich moist well-drained soil pH 6.0-7.0. Morning sun intensifies the gold margin — but afternoon sun scorches leaves. Slugs and snails. Not deer-resistant. Dormant in winter. Toxic to dogs and cats. Slow to mature (4-6 years). Zones 3-8.

Pruning

Cut flower scapes at the base after bloom. Remove tattered foliage after the first hard frost or in early spring before new eyes emerge. Divide every 5-8 years in spring if clumps become overcrowded.

Pruning Schedule

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
fallearly spring

Maintenance Level

low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 10 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets