H. ‘Blue Hawaii’

Overview

Hosta 'Blue Hawaii' is a large, fast-growing hosta cultivar registered in 1999, resulting from a cross between H. 'Bengee' and H. 'Sagae' as the pod parent, with H. 'Tokudama Aureonebulosa' as the pollen parent. This cultivar is distinguished by its intensely blue-green leaf margins, heavy glaucous bloom on both leaf surfaces, and upright growth habit. It forms a substantial clump reaching 42 inches (106.7 cm) in diameter and 30 inches (76.2 cm) in height.

In the Garden

Hosta 'Blue Hawaii' performs best in partial to full shade, where its blue-green foliage retains the glaucous bloom that gives the leaves their distinctive color. The leaves are 10 inches (25.4 cm) long and 8 inches (20.3 cm) wide, with cordate bases and 11 to 13 vein pairs. The upright, mounding habit makes this cultivar suitable for mid-border placement or as a specimen plant in shaded beds. Its large size and rapid growth rate allow it to fill space effectively, and it pairs well with ferns, astilbes, and other shade-tolerant perennials that contrast with its broad, blue-green leaves. The blue scapes, reaching 42 to 46 inches (106.7 to 116.8 cm) in height, provide vertical interest before flowering.

Care Notes

Hosta 'Blue Hawaii' requires consistent moisture during the growing season, particularly in warmer climates, and benefits from rich, well-draining soil amended with organic matter. Standard hosta care applies: apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. This cultivar is susceptible to slug and deer damage, and the glaucous bloom on the leaves may be less pronounced in full sun or under overhead irrigation. It is reliably hardy in temperate climates typical of hosta cultivation (USDA zones 3–9).