H. ‘Daybreak’

Overview

Registered in 1986 by P. Aden as a sport of a Japanese seedling of unknown origin, *Hosta* 'Daybreak' is a large, mound-forming cultivar distinguished by its green leaves with bright yellow-green margins and glossy upper surfaces. The leaf blades measure 12 inches (30.5 cm) long by 8 inches (20.3 cm) wide, with 13 pairs of veins, and the plant reaches 22 inches (55.9 cm) in height with a spread of 36 inches (91.4 cm).

In the Garden

'Daybreak' performs best in partial to full shade, where its variegated foliage retains the brightest margin color. Its substantial size makes it suitable as a specimen or as part of a mixed border with other shade-tolerant perennials such as ferns, astilbes, or *Heuchera* cultivars. The scape height is listed as 28 inches (71.1 cm), though the upper measurement is recorded as zero, suggesting variable flowering height; typical lavender flowers appear 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, 'Daybreak' may require protection from slugs and deer in garden settings.