2022 Hosta of the Year

HOSTA x Island Breeze (Island Breeze Hosta) First came ‘Fire Island’ which was followed by its variegated progeny ‘Paradise Island’.  Now there is ‘Island Breeze’ which is the third member of this “tropical” family and a sport of ‘Paradise Island’. 

The improvements in this cultivar include more impressive variegation due to its wider margins, thicker leaf substance, and a strong growth rate.

Wide, dark green margins stand in sharp contrast to the bright yellow centers in early spring.  As summer approaches, the centers become more chartreuse when plants are grown in heavier shade or lighter yellow if they are grown in more sun. Like ‘Paradise Island’, this one also has showy red speckled petioles that bleed up into the leaves. 

Dark lavender flowers appear on reddish green scapes in midsummer.

A Northern Sunset perennial, it prefers rich, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade.

(Image courtesy of Walters Gardens)