H. ‘First Light’

Overview

Registered in 2010, this small sport of *Hosta* 'Morning Light' is a ploidy chimera with a hexaploid center. Its blue-green leaves are edged with gold margins, the reverse of the typical green-margined, gold-centered pattern found in many hostas, and the leaf surface is notably very shiny on the upper side with a glaucous bloom beneath.

In the Garden

'First Light' reaches a mature diameter of approximately 8 inches (20 cm) and a height of 8 inches (20 cm), making it suitable for the front of borders, rock gardens, or containers. It performs best in partial to full shade, as is typical for blue-green hostas, and its slow growth rate and heavy substance allow it to maintain a compact, tidy form. Companion plantings may include small ferns, heucheras, or shade-tolerant groundcovers that do not overwhelm its diminutive scale.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, particularly in dry periods, and apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. The thick leaf substance offers some resistance to slugs, though monitoring may still be necessary in damp conditions; deer may browse young foliage in spring.