H. ‘Cracker Jack’
Hosta ‘Cracker Jack’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Section class | IV-5b (Small) |
Overview
Registered in 2011 as a sport of *Hosta* 'Cracker Crumbs', this small cultivar is visually distinctive for its reversed variegation pattern: medium green leaves with narrow, flat, yellow margins, in contrast to the gold-centered leaves of its parent. The mound-forming plant reaches 6 inches (15.2 cm) in height and 15 inches (38.1 cm) in diameter, with ovate leaves measuring 3 inches (7.6 cm) long and 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide, bearing 4 to 5 vein pairs and a slightly wavy margin.
In the Garden
*Hosta* 'Cracker Jack' performs best in partial to full shade, suiting typical hosta-growing zones. Its compact dimensions make it appropriate for the front of borders, rock gardens, or container culture. Pair with fine-textured shade perennials such as ferns or *Heuchera* to contrast its broad, slightly shiny leaves.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Slugs and deer may damage foliage; monitor regularly and employ barriers or repellents as needed.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 6 in (15.2 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 15 in (38.1 cm) |
| Leaf length | 3 in (7.6 cm) |
| Leaf width | 2 in (5.1 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 5 |
| Leaf | medium green with .125in (0.3cm) wide, yellow, flat margins; slightly shiny on top; slightly shiny underneath; slightly wavy |
| Flower scape height | 8–12 in (20.3–30.5 cm) |
| Notable characteristics | reversed sport of the mother plant |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Sport parent: Sport of H. 'Cracker Crumbs' — H. ‘Cracker Crumbs’
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (IV-5b, small size):
- H. ‘Autumn Frost’ (2009)
- H. ‘Praying Hands’ (1996)
- H. ‘Butter Rim’ (1986)
- H. ‘Blitz’ (2011)
- H. ‘Joan Altman’ (2011)
- H. ‘Picasso’ (2011)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #1231