Hosta 'Brother Stefan'

Hosta 'Brother Stefan': A Crown Jewel of Contrast

Bold and luminous, Hosta 'Brother Stefan' is a striking showpiece prized for its heavily textured foliage and dazzling variegation. Large, deeply corrugated leaves in a glowing blend of gold and chartreuse are edged in rich blue-green, forming a majestic clump that glows even in deep shade. In midsummer, pale lavender flowers rise above the foliage, adding a touch of elegance to this commanding cultivar.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 45–60 cm
• Spread: 90–100 cm, forming a dense, mounding clump
• Flower Colour: Pale lavender
• Flowering Period: Midsummer
• Foliage: Large, deeply puckered gold-centred leaves with bold blue-green margins
• Sunlight Requirements: Partial to full shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained, organic-rich soil

Uses and Benefits: Hosta 'Brother Stefan' is ideal as a focal point in shaded beds, borders, or courtyard plantings where its bold colour and texture can shine. Its thick foliage resists slugs, while its midsummer flowers attract pollinators. This hosta provides a rich visual anchor in mixed shade plantings and works beautifully in both formal and naturalistic garden designs, delivering lasting beauty from spring through fall.

Companion Plants: Combine Hosta 'Brother Stefan' with Athyrium 'Ghost', whose silver-grey fronds add a soft, airy texture against the hosta’s bold leaves. Add contrast with Ligularia 'The Rocket', offering dramatic foliage and vertical yellow flower spikes. Finish the trio with Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola', an ornamental grass whose golden arching blades echo the hosta’s warm tones and introduce graceful movement to the planting.

Care Instructions: Plant in partial to full shade with consistently moist, humus-rich soil. Water regularly during dry periods to maintain foliage quality. Clean up old leaves in early spring before new growth emerges. Divide every 4–5 years in spring to maintain vigour and manage clump size. Thick leaves offer good resistance to slugs and garden pests.

History: Hosta 'Brother Stefan' was introduced by Olga Petryszyn and named in honour of her brother. It has garnered high praise in the hosta world for its exceptional variegation, leaf texture, and garden performance, earning the American Hosta Growers’ “Hosta of the Year” title in 2017.

Final Thoughts: Rich in contrast and sculptural detail, Hosta 'Brother Stefan' transforms shady corners into luminous focal points. Its golden glow and rugged elegance offer a timeless presence in the woodland garden, rewarding gardeners with beauty that deepens year after year.