H. ‘Cosmic Rainbow’

Hosta 'Cosmic Rainbow'
Illustration: The Hosta Farm Editorial Team.

Hosta ‘Cosmic Rainbow’ is a registered cultivar () .

Year registered2008
Section classII-7 (Large)

Overview

Registered in 2008, *Hosta* 'Cosmic Rainbow' is a large cultivar resulting from a cross between *H. 'Cosmic Hippie'* (pod parent) and *H. 'Dorothy Benedict'* (pollen parent). Its visual distinction lies in dark green leaves heavily streaked with yellow, framed by gold margins, with lightly rippled edges and a slightly shiny upper surface.

In the Garden

'Cosmic Rainbow' performs best in partial to full shade, reaching a mature spread of 38 inches (96.5 cm) and a height of 18 inches (45.7 cm). Its substantial leaf size—10 inches (25.4 cm) long by 8 inches (20.3 cm) wide—makes it a strong specimen or border plant, pairing well with ferns, astilbes, or other shade-tolerant perennials. The green-streaked scapes, 28 to 36 inches (71.1 to 91.4 cm) tall, bear lavender flowers in midsummer.

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; monitor and manage accordingly in typical hosta-growing zones.

Size and leaf

Clump height18 in (45.7 cm)
Clump width38 in (96.5 cm)
Leaf length10 in (25.4 cm)
Leaf width8 in (20.3 cm)
Vein pairs17
LeafDark green streaked with yellow slightly rippled margins; slightly shiny on top; dull underneath; lightly corrugated
Flower scape height28–36 in (71.1–91.4 cm)

From the American Hosta Society Registry record.

Parentage

Similar cultivars

Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (II-7, large size):

Related guides

Registration data: AHS Registry #1201