Hosta 'Sunny Halcyon'

Hosta 'Sunny Halcyon': The Classic Shape in Bright Blond

Thick, heart-shaped, soft-gold leaves that look like they just got back from a long weekend and haven't checked email yet. 'Sunny Halcyon' is RELAXED, RADIANT AND REFUSING TO RESPOND.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Hosta 'Sunny Halcyon'
• Common Name: Plantain Lily, Hosta
• Height: 30 cm (12 in)
• Spread: 50 cm (20 in)
• Flowers: Pale lavender, tubular, on stems above the leaves
• Bloom Time: Midsummer (July to August)
• Foliage: Thick, heart-shaped leaves in greenish yellow to soft gold
• Features: Thick-textured leaves

Where to Plant: Use it at the front or middle of a shady border, in a container, or as a bright repeat along a path, and it's the right size for small yards. In a pot by a shaded door, it adds a welcoming glow.

Companion Plants: Heuchera 'Autumn Bride' carries white spikes at 45 to 50 cm from August into October. Ligularia 'Britt-Marie Crawford' adds orange flowers at 90 to 120 cm in August and September. Cornus canadensis spreads at 10 to 20 cm with white flowers in May and June. All three grow in shade to partial sun.

Plant Care: Plant in part sun to full shade, in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. A bit of morning sun warms up the yellow; avoid hot afternoon sun. Water regularly through its first summer and during dry spells. Deer and rabbits will eat hostas, so use a repellent or fencing if they visit. Its thick leaves help it stand up to slugs. Cut off the flower stems after bloom and remove the foliage after a hard frost. Divide in spring once it's well established.

History: 'Sunny Halcyon' is a recent introduction, registered in 2021 by Gerardus Heemskerk of Heemskerk Vaste Planten in the Netherlands. The American Hosta Society registration lists it as a sport of Hosta 'Catherine', while the nursery presents it as a yellow-leaved form of 'Halcyon'.

Final Thoughts: Compact, easy care and a little gold glow in the shade. Put it near the hammock and set your out-of-office. GONE GARDENING.