H. ‘Tropicana’

Overview

Registered in 2010, *Hosta* 'Tropicana' is a large hybrid derived from a cross between *H.* 'Sea Prize' (pod parent) and *H.* 'Yellow River' (pollen parent). The cultivar is visually distinctive for its blue-green leaves edged with wide, creamy white margins, a combination that produces a pale green central field framed by a flat, 0.5-inch (1.3 cm) border.

In the Garden

This mound-forming hosta reaches a mature diameter of 40 inches (101.6 cm) and a height of 19 inches (48.3 cm), with a moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical of hosta-growing zones, and its large, ovate leaves with moderate waviness and light corrugation provide textural contrast in woodland borders or shade gardens. The green scapes, rising 24 to 30 inches (61.0 to 76.2 cm), bear lavender flowers in midsummer. Its substantial size makes it suitable as a specimen or in mixed perennial beds, paired with ferns or astilbes.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, it is susceptible to slug and deer damage, so protective measures may be necessary in areas with high pest pressure.