Hosta 'Autumn Frost'

Hosta 'Autumn Frost': Crisp Contrast for Cool Shade

Striking and sculptural, Hosta 'Autumn Frost' brings a fresh, frosty glow to the shade garden with its bold blue centres and vivid, buttery-yellow margins that mature to creamy white. The thick, heart-shaped leaves are heavily substanced and slightly cupped, forming a compact mound that holds its colour beautifully through the growing season. Lavender flowers appear in midsummer, but it’s the luminous foliage that steals the show—brightening shady corners with refined brilliance.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 25–30 cm (40–45 cm in bloom)
• Spread: 50–60 cm, forming a neat, symmetrical clump
• Flower Colour: Soft lavender
• Flowering Period: Midsummer
• Foliage: Blue centres with wide, bright yellow margins maturing to white; thick and slightly cupped
• Sunlight Requirements: Part shade to full shade; some morning sun enhances colour
• Soil Requirements: Moist, rich, well-drained soil; mulch helps maintain consistent moisture

Uses and Benefits: Hosta 'Autumn Frost' offers brilliant contrast and a crisp, clean aesthetic for shady beds, paths, or container plantings. Its compact habit makes it perfect for edging or tucking into tight spaces, while its durable foliage resists slugs and stands up well in the summer heat. A true four-season plant, it emerges early with bright colour and holds structure into fall, providing low-maintenance elegance from spring’s first flush to autumn’s golden tones.

Companion Plants: Pair Hosta 'Autumn Frost' with the airy fronds of Athyrium 'Ghost', which echo the cool tones and add vertical softness. Add Heuchera 'Lime Marmalade' for a pop of electric chartreuse against the hosta’s pale rim. Introduce Carex 'Everglow' to complement the creamy margins and offer fine, glowing texture into fall.

Care Instructions: Grow in part to full shade with evenly moist, humus-rich soil. Water regularly during dry periods to support leaf health. Mulch annually to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Divide every 4–5 years in early spring or fall to refresh the clump. Remove faded flower stalks to maintain a clean appearance.

History: Hosta 'Autumn Frost' is a sport of the award-winning ‘First Frost,’ introduced by Walters Gardens. It inherits exceptional vigour, leaf substance, and colour clarity from its lineage, making it a standout in both performance and aesthetics for North American shade gardens.

Final Thoughts: Cool, compact, and consistently beautiful, Hosta 'Autumn Frost' delivers high-impact colour with little effort. A luminous accent for dim corners, it brings definition and brightness with every frosted edge.