Walters Gardens, Inc.
Hosta ‘Love Story’
Zones 3 to 9
Proven Winners’ Hosta of the Year for 2028, ‘Love Story,’ is one to watch. Its curvaceous leaves have crimped edges like a pie crust, with striking variegation. Feathery brushstrokes of cream on the leaves complement the early summer white flowers. ‘Love Story’ is also more heat-tolerant than many. At 14 inches by 36 inches, it’s easy to fit this hosta variety in your beds.
Why we love it: ‘Love Story’ is one of the latest in the SHADOWLAND series from Walters Gardens, selected for pest resistance (looking at you, slugs), performance across regions, and a long-lasting appeal.
Walters Gardens, Inc.
Hosta ‘Halcyon’
Zones 3 to 9
The powder-blue color and thick slug-resistant leaves make ‘Halcyon’ an ever-popular choice that reaches approximately 14 inches high and 30 inches wide. Ethereal, pale lavender flowers that attract hummingbirds emerge in mid-summer, soaring up to 28 inches high.
Why we love it: While some blue hostas fade to green, especially in humid climates, ‘Halcyon’ holds its color longer than many.
Kristine Radkovska/Getty Images
Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’
Zones 3 to 8
Despite its tiny size, this hosta makes a big impression. With elegant, blue folded leaves, ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ tops out at 8 inches high and 12 inches wide with lavender flowers in summer.
Why we love it: The silvery-blue foliage sometimes takes on white edges, making the foliage look touched by frost.
White Flower Farm
Hosta ‘Guacamole’
Zones 3 to 9
When you want to shine a light in dark spaces, ‘Guacamole,’ does so with unique style. Spanning 3 feet across and 2 feet tall, the wide apple green leaves are edged with wide margins of avocado green.
Why we love it: Early summer flowers are held high for a bold display. Even better? They are highly fragrant, adding a sweet scent to summer gardens.
www.provenwinners.com
Hosta ‘Mini Skirt’
Zones 3 to 9
‘Mini Skirt’ couldn’t be more adorable. Wavy leaves curve inward, making a tight mound, almost ball-shaped, that only gets 5 inches tall and 13 inches wide. Blue-green stripes on the leaves pop against wide cream margins.
Why we love it: The abundant lavender flowers are held close to the plant for a showy display that will shine in patio pots or along border edges.
Walters Gardens, Inc.
Hosta ‘Echo the Sun’
Zones 3 to 9
Gold foliage sparkles in the shade, and ‘Echo the Sun,’ glows up to 4 feet wide and about 2 feet tall with broad, wavy leaves that ripple like sunlight on water.
Why we love it: The 18-inch-tall lavender flowers, appearing in summer, are the perfect complement – purple being opposite yellow on the color wheel – to the gilded leaves.
Walters Gardens, Inc.
Hosta ‘Curly Fries’
Zones 3 to 9
This small perennial plant – chosen as Hosta variety of the Year in 2016 – earns its place in containers and borders thanks to its distinctive ribbon-like foliage. It tops out at 6 inches tall and 16 inches wide, erupting in lavender flowers in midsummer. In brighter shade, foliage will be more vivid chartreuse, and in darker shade, pale green.
Why we love it: Like an ornamental grass, ‘Curly Fries’ offers fun texture, elevating any hosta collection or mixed border. The flowers are framed by arching leaves at the top, lending aesthetic appeal.
www.provenwinners.com
Hosta ‘Autumn Frost’
Zones 3 to 9
Shadowland ‘Autumn Frost,’ a genetic variant of popular ‘First Frost,’ delivers an eye-catching combination of frosty blue and chartreuse in a tidy footprint spanning only 2 feet. Trumpet-shaped white flowers rise in summer over the foliage, attracting hummingbirds.
Why we love it: ‘Autumn Frost’ is a three-time award winner for top performance in both Massachusetts and Mississippi trials.
Doreen Wynja / Monrovia
Hosta ‘T Rex’
Zones 2 to 9
For a specimen that makes a statement and is extra cold hardy, look to ‘T Rex.’ It grows slowly, reaching epic proportions of 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide. The wavy bright spring-green foliage has a ribbed texture that makes it stand out even more. Preferring even moisture to look its best, ‘T Rex’ adds a touch of Jurassic wonder to your garden.
Why we love it: The white flowers, emerging in summer, support bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Terra Nova Nurseries
Hosta ‘Raspberry Sundae’
Zones 4 to 9
This Terra Nova Nurseries introduction boasts stylish variegation, red stems, and gorgeous late summer-into-fall dark lavender flowers. At only 9 inches high and 21 inches wide, ‘Raspberry Sundae’ fits into small spaces and is ready to star in your part- to full-shade beds and containers.
Why we love it: Thanks to its unique burgundy stems this stunner’s wow-factor start as soon as the leaves emerge in spring.
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