H. ‘First Frost’
Hosta ‘First Frost’ is a registered cultivar () , originated by P. Scolnik.
| Year registered | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Originator | P. Scolnik |
| Section class | III-8(5b-4b) (Medium) |
Last checked against the AHS registry:
What it looks like
'First Frost' is a blue hosta with a narrow margin. The AHS registry describes intensely blue-green, broadly ovate leaves with a 0.4–0.5 in margin that emerges yellow and turns pure white, and a glaucous (powdery) bloom on both sides. The Hosta of the Year booklet adds that the blue center gradually turns dark green over the season. Pale lavender flowers on blue scapes 22–28 in tall, recorded in North Carolina from July 10 to August 10. It sets viable seed with blue-green pods.
Registered size vs. grown size
| Source | Height | Width | Leaf (L × W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHS Registry record (2002) | 16 in (41 cm) | 36 in (91 cm) | 7 × 5 in (18 × 13 cm) |
| AHS Hosta of the Year booklet | 15 in (38 cm) | 36 in (91 cm) | — |
The two sources give nearly the same figures. The registry measured a 2-year-old clump with a moderate growth rate.
Where it fits
A medium, mound-like plant registered at 36 in across. The pale edge is registered at 0.4–0.5 in wide.
How it compares
- 'Halcyon' is the parent: same blue leaf, no margin, and a wider booklet width (47 in against 36 in).
- 'June', another 'Halcyon' sport, has the reverse pattern: gold center, blue-green edge.
- 'Patriot' also has a white margin, but on a glossy dark green leaf, and the margin is about twice as wide (1 in).
Parentage and awards
Tissue-culture sport of 'Halcyon' (registry: "original sport obtained from TC"). Originated by P. Scolnik; named, introduced and registered by R. Solberg.
- AHGA Hosta of the Year 2010 (booklet; registry comments).
- Benedict Medal for Garden Performance 2013; Award of Merit 2010; Honorable Mention 2009 (AHS Benedict list).
- Listed in AHS Popularity Polls between 2008 and 2024, including the 2024 medium-to-large list.
Limits and unknowns
The booklet notes "good substance", which is as close as the sources come to slug or light information; see the hosta care guide for the rest. The registry describes plants from North Carolina; we found no published data on how the blue holds up in other climates.
Sources
Profile written and checked against the sources above on .
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 16 in (40.6 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 36 in (91.4 cm) |
| Leaf length | 7 in (17.8 cm) |
| Leaf width | 5 in (12.7 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 10 |
| Leaf | intensely blue green with .4 to .5in (1.0 to 1.3cm) wide, yellow becoming white, flat margins; glaucous bloom on top; glaucous bloom underneath; moderately flat |
| Flower scape height | 22–28 in (55.9–71.1 cm) |
| Seasonal colour change | emerges with yellow margin turns pure white |
| Notable characteristics | seasonal color changes |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
Registered cultivars that list Hosta ‘First Frost’ as a parent:
- H. ‘Permafrost’ (sport)
- H. ‘Valley's Glacier’ (sport)
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (III-8(5b-4b), medium size):
- H. ‘Lady Godiva’ (2004)
- H. ‘Pineapple Punch’ (2005)
- H. ‘Fair Maiden’ (1993)
- H. ‘Wide Brim’ (1979)
Related guides
Looking for ‘First Frost’ on Amazon
Third-party sellers list this cultivar on Amazon. We have not bought these plants and cannot confirm that what arrives is true to name, so compare the listing photos with the description on this page and check the seller, plant size (bare root, quart or gallon) and shipping season before buying.
Search Amazon for ‘First Frost’ · What to expect from hostas sold on Amazon
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Registration data: AHS Registry #1776. How we check this data.