Hosta 'Magic Island'

Hosta 'Magic Island': Slim Gold Streaks Across Blue-Green

Narrow, glossy leaves with a yellow centre that fades to cream and a wide blue-green border. 'Magic Island' is small, tidy and pulls off THE DISAPPEARING-COLOUR TRICK without a top hat.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hosta 'Magic Island'
• Common Name: Plantain Lily, Hosta
• Height: 25 cm (10 in)
• Spread: 40 cm (16 in)
• Flowers: Lavender bells on scapes about 35 cm (14 in) tall
• Bloom Time: Midsummer (July to August)
• Foliage: Narrow, thick, slightly shiny leaves with a yellow centre fading to cream and a wide blue-green margin
• Features: Compact

Where to Plant: Use it at the front of a shade border, along a path or in a container where its finer leaves can be seen up close. It's small enough for a rock garden edge or a mixed collection.

Companion Plants: Give 'Magic Island' a moist, shady bed with crimson astilbe, an evergreen fern and a dark-leaved ligularia. Astilbe 'Fanal' adds deep crimson plumes at 60 cm in June and July. Polystichum acrostichoides brings leathery Christmas fern fronds at 30 to 60 cm. Ligularia 'Midnight Lady' adds dark leaves and golden daisies at 90 to 100 cm from July to September. Carex 'Ice Dance' edges the front with white-edged blades at 30 cm.

Plant Care: Plant in part sun to full shade, in moist, well-drained soil enriched with compost. Water regularly in the first year and during dry spells. Some morning sun helps the yellow centre glow; avoid hot afternoon sun. Cut off the flower stems after bloom if you like and remove the foliage after a hard frost. Divide in spring when the clump gets crowded. Deer and rabbits like hostas, so protect it where they roam.

History: 'Magic Island' was registered in 2011 by Gerardus Heemskerk of Heemskerk Vaste Planten in the Netherlands. It is a sport of the hosta 'Catherine', a selection that shares its narrow, upright habit.

Final Thoughts: Compact enough for a pot, low maintenance enough for anybody. Plant it and take a bow. ABRACADABRA, SOLD.