Hosta 'Gypsy Rose'

Hosta 'Gypsy Rose': Artistic Contrast with a Painter’s Touch

With graceful colour contrast and refined form, Hosta 'Gypsy Rose' draws the eye with narrow, rippling green leaves that frame a chartreuse centre and a thin white halo between. This elegant mutation of the popular 'Striptease' offers a luminous, layered effect that’s both subtle and striking. Lavender flowers appear in midsummer, lifting softly above the foliage.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 35–45 cm
• Spread: 70–80 cm, forming a gently arching mound
• Flower Colour: Lavender
• Flowering Period: Midsummer
• Foliage: Narrow, arching leaves with green margins, chartreuse centres, and a fine white line between
• Sunlight Requirements: Partial shade to filtered sun
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil

Uses and Benefits: Hosta 'Gypsy Rose' is an eye-catching choice for the mid-border, accenting shady walkways, or softening patio edges. Its elegant colour layering adds dimension to hosta groupings and mixed shade plantings. The white line that separates its colours is subtle but dramatic, lending a painterly quality to its form. A well-behaved and rewarding cultivar with season-long appeal.

Companion Plants: Pair Hosta 'Gypsy Rose' with Heuchera 'Paris', whose rosy flower wands and silvery-green leaves echo the hosta’s soft tones. Add Athyrium 'Victorian Lady Fern' for fine, upright fronds that provide light texture and contrast. Round out the composition with Festuca 'Cool As Ice', a compact ornamental grass with icy blue blades that bring brightness and movement to the planting.

Care Instructions: Plant in partial shade with rich, consistently moist but well-drained soil. Water during dry spells to keep foliage lush. Clean up spent leaves in spring and divide every few years to rejuvenate the clump. Tolerates some morning sun, which may enhance leaf colour.

History: Hosta 'Gypsy Rose' is a sport of the acclaimed 'Striptease', selected for its more defined colour contrast and unique layering effect. It remains a collector favourite for its subtle elegance and dependable performance.

Final Thoughts: Poised and artistic, Hosta 'Gypsy Rose' offers a palette of greens that shift with the light—perfect for gardeners seeking both structure and sophistication in the shade.