A Sculpted Masterpiece of Shifting Yellow and Olive-Green
Alttara Scheer introduced Hosta 'Annabel Lee' as a medium-sized cultivar celebrated for its remarkable seasonal colour journey. Foliage emerges as a luminous bright yellow in spring before maturing through yellow-green to a rich olive-green with a subtle blue-grey cast by late summer. The leaves are heavily crinkled, twisted, and corrugated, providing exceptional tactile and visual depth. Vibrant red and purple petioles add a hidden flash of colour beneath the lush canopy. It grows vigorously across Canadian hardiness zones 3–9 and anchors woodland borders with a dense, reliable mounded habit.
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Dynamic Three-Stage Colour Journey: Foliage transitions from luminous spring yellow through yellow-green to a sophisticated olive-green with a blue-grey cast — three distinct looks from a single plant across the Canadian growing season.
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Heavily Crinkled Twisted Corrugated Texture: Deeply crinkled, twisted, and corrugated leaves provide exceptional tactile depth and a sculptural quality that contrasts beautifully with smoother hosta companions in the border.
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Striking Red and Purple Petioles: Vibrant red and purple petioles offer a hidden flash of colour beneath the foliage canopy — a hallmark of high-quality modern hybrids and a detail that rewards close observation.
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Lavender Blooms on Purple Scapes: Attractive lavender flowers held on striking purple scapes appear in midsummer, adding a final layer of elegance above the textured foliage mound.
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Vigorous Fast-Establishing Habit: Reaches 45–55 cm (18–22") tall and 90–120 cm (36–47") wide and is known for its fast growth rate, quickly establishing a dense, reliable clump in diverse Canadian garden conditions.
| Feature |
Specification |
| Size (H × W) |
45–55 cm × 90–120 cm (18–22" × 36–47") |
| Hardiness Zone |
3–9 |
| Colour |
Yellow to olive-green with blue-grey cast; lavender flowers |
| Light Requirements |
Partial to full shade; sun tolerant with adequate moisture |
Grower's Tip: Dappled morning light helps develop the brilliant spring yellow tones on 'Annabel Lee' before the summer heat sets in — it handles Canadian winters with ease from Zone 3 through 9 and the three-stage colour journey is especially dramatic in the cool, moist growing conditions of the Saguenay region of Québec where hostas hold their spring colour longer into the season. We grow it at our nursery in Bécancour, QC and verify the distinctive crinkled texture and red petioles before every plant ships. Our True to Type standard means you receive the authentic Alttara Scheer selection, confirmed before it leaves Bécancour.
