Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise'

Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise' is a wonderful new sport of 'Maui Buttercups' that offers new leaves of a solid light green which develop dark green borders with brilliant gold centers as they mature. These thick, glossy, deeply cupped and intensely corrugated leaves hold up well all season and are resistant to slugs.

A medium to quick grower, this 2003 Anderson introduction begins spring with luminous golden foliage. The dark green edge emerges after several weeks, and only serves to enhance the contrast between the glittering gold and neighboring foliage. Heart-shaped and pointed, the leaves are held up and out, with a nicely cupped structure that adds depth and texture to the display. In midsummer, light lavender flowers top the plant on 24-inch scapes.

'Rainforest Sunrise' is part of the Designer Hosta™ Collection. Plants considered for this collection are selected by a group of specialty hosta growers and evaluated for superior performance in a range of climates in zones 4 through 7. Like all Hostas, 'Rainforest Sunrise' is quite versatile, long-lived, and tolerant of adversity from poor soil to extreme heat, humidity, cold, and even drought. It improves each year, returning with thicker leaves, more pronounced "quilting," and slightly larger size. It is tolerant of pollution, and is equally at home in a woodland or city setting. Use it as edging, in the border, or as a specimen planting.

'Rainforest Sunrise' reaches about 8 inches high and 18 inches wide. It will do well in all-day light to moderate shade, in well-drained, highly organic soil. Sandy loam is preferred over clay as it provides more aeration for the roots. Give this plant at least a few hours of sunlight or dappled shade to bring out the best gold tones. Zones 3-8.