H. ‘Dragon Fire’

Overview

Registered in 2005 by W. Lefever, this large hosta cultivar produces blue-green leaves with a glaucous bloom on both surfaces, broadly ovate with cordate bases and moderately twisted, lightly folded, and lightly wavy margins. The foliage is borne on gray-purple petioles, and the leaf blades measure 11.5 inches (29.2 cm) long by 10 inches (25.4 cm) wide with 10 to 11 vein pairs.

In the Garden

'Hosta 'Dragon Fire' forms a mound-like clump reaching 26 inches (66.0 cm) in height and 48 inches (121.9 cm) in diameter, with a moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical for blue-leaved hostas, where the glaucous bloom remains most pronounced. The substantial size and gray-purple scapes (38 to 42 inches, or 96.5 to 106.7 cm tall) make it suitable as a specimen or in mixed shade borders with ferns, heucheras, or other large hostas.

Care Notes

Water regularly during dry periods to maintain leaf turgor; apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Slugs and deer may damage foliage, so monitor and manage as needed in typical hosta-growing zones.