Hosta ‘First Frost’ Plantain Lily

Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit 2012

American Hosta Growers’ Association Hosta of the Year 2010

Hosta ‘First Frost’ is an herbaceous perennial offering 3 seasons of interest, grown for its dramatic variegated foliage, with leaves that hold up until “first frost” in fall. A handsome sport of ‘Halcyon’, Hosta ‘First Frost’ has broad, heart-shaped, bright blue-green leaves. The leaves emerge with an irregular gold margin in early spring that changes to pure white later in the season. Funnel-shaped light lavender flowers, borne on long 28-inch scapes, bloom midsummer, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. The flowers make nice additions to floral arrangements.

A Hosta hybrid, commonly called hosta or plantain lily, Hosta ‘First Frost’ is a rhizomatous plant with a symmetrical, mounding habit and a medium growth rate. Hosta is a highly versatile plant, shown to best effect when grouped or massed in beds and borders. But it also makes a lovely specimen or container plant as well as nice edging.

Cold hardy, easy to grow, low maintenance, and very adaptable, Hosta ‘First Frost’ grows best in dappled to full shade locations with rich, moist, well-draining soil having an acidic to neutral pH between 5.5 and 7.5, but it tolerates a wide range of soils. It tolerates morning sun, which will intensify leaf colors, but afternoon sun may be deadly, especially in hot climates. Allowing the plant to dry out slightly between waterings helps with root development, but do not allow it to dry out completely. Mulch helps retain moisture and prevent heaving in winter. Hosta also benefit from a light fertilizer (20-10-20) in early spring but should not be overfeed or overwatered.

Introduced in 2002 by Patricia Scolnik and B. Solberg, Hosta ‘First Frost’ has earned accolades from across the country, and finally received entry into the Designer Hosta™ Collection for its adaptability to differing climates and conditions.