Hosta 'Island Breeze'
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Hosta 'Island Breeze': Sunny Yellow Leaves on Red Stems
Bright yellow leaves with green edges and red stems, like a tropical drink with the little umbrella still in it. 'Island Breeze' brings the all-inclusive resort to your shade garden. NO PASSPORT REQUIRED.
Plant Characteristics:
- Botanical Name: Hosta 'Island Breeze'
- Common Name: Plantain lily, hosta
- Height: 30 cm (12 in) foliage, with flower stems to about 71 cm (28 in)
- Spread: 45 cm (18 in)
- Flowers: Dark lavender-purple
- Bloom Time: Midsummer (July to August)
- Foliage: Bright yellow leaves with green margins and red stems in spring; centres turn chartreuse in full shade
- Features: Hosta of the Year 2022
Where to Plant: It's small enough for the front of a border, a rock garden edge or a container on a shaded step. Plant several along a path for a bright ribbon of yellow.
Companion Plants: Give 'Island Breeze' a moist, shady bed with silver brunnera, orchid-like toad lilies and a narrow beech fern. Brunnera 'Queen of Hearts' opens baby-blue flowers at 41 to 46 cm in April and May over silver leaves. Phegopteris decursive-pinnata adds narrow, lance-shaped fern fronds at 30 to 60 cm. Tricyrtis 'Autumn Glow' brings orchid-like toad lily flowers at 60 to 66 cm in August and September. Hystrix patula adds a native bottlebrush grass at 60 to 120 cm in flower.
Plant Care: Plant it in rich, moist, well-drained soil with compost. Some morning sun keeps the yellow at its brightest. Avoid hot afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves. Water during dry spells, especially while it settles in. Deer, rabbits and slugs all like hostas, so watch for damage. Cut the flower stems after bloom and clear the foliage after a hard frost. Divide in spring if you want more plants.
History: Hans Hansen and Ariel Diaz found 'Island Breeze' in a greenhouse at Walters Gardens in Michigan as a tissue culture sport of Hosta 'Fire Island', and it was registered in 2014. The American Hosta Growers Association named it Hosta of the Year in 2022.
Final Thoughts: Hummingbirds treat the purple flowers like a swim-up bar. Plant it, pour yourself something cold and CALL IT A VACATION.