H. ‘Halcyon’
Hosta ‘Halcyon’ is a registered cultivar () , originated by E. Smith & BHHS.
| Year registered | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Registrant | E. Smith & BHHS |
| Section class | IV-2 (Small) |
Last checked against the AHS registry:
What it looks like
'Halcyon' is a blue hosta with pointed, thick leaves. The Hosta of the Year booklet calls the color "frosty blue-green" and says it "retains blue leaf color longer than most other blue hostas". Pale blue-violet flowers appear in midsummer on 28 in scapes (booklet). The AHS registry record is sparse: blue leaves 4 × 3 in with 11 vein pairs and a 12 in scape, with no flower data.
Registered size vs. grown size
| Source | Height | Width | Leaf (L × W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHS Registry record | 21 in (53 cm) | 23 in (58 cm) | 4 × 3 in (10 × 8 cm) |
| AHS Hosta of the Year booklet | 24 in (61 cm) | 47 in (119 cm) | — |
The registry and the booklet also disagree on scape height (12 in vs 28 in). The two sources give different figures and do not say the clumps were comparable; neither is a guarantee for your garden.
Where it fits
The booklet describes a medium, mounding plant; the registry gives no habit. Its plain blue is what separates it from its own variegated sports below.
How it compares
- 'June' is a sport with a gold center and blue-green margin; the booklet gives 16 × 37 in, against 24 × 47 in for 'Halcyon' in the same booklet.
- 'First Frost' is a sport with a narrow yellow-to-white margin around a blue center, registered at 36 in across and 16 in high.
- 'Neptune' is a 'Halcyon' grandchild with longer leaves with rippled margins (13 × 7 in registered) and a cascading form; the booklet gives the same 24 × 47 in size.
Parentage and awards
Tardiana Group: hybrids from a cross of H. 'Tardiflora' × H. sieboldiana var. elegans (booklet). Registered by E. Smith and the British Hosta and Hemerocallis Society. The registry gives 1988; the booklet's 2026 entry prints 1998, and the AHS Benedict list uses both years. We follow the registry.
- AHS Hosta of the Year 2026 — the first under the new AHS program (booklet).
- Benedict Medal for Garden Performance 2024; Award of Merit 2023; Honorable Mention 2022 (AHS Benedict list).
- Listed in AHS Popularity Polls 2001–2023 (not every year).
Limits and unknowns
The booklet credits thick leaves with "good slug resistance"; we have not seen a trial. "Retains blue longer" is a comparison without numbers. The registry record lacks plant habit, flower color and bloom dates. For general care, see our guide to growing hostas.
Sources
Profile written and checked against the sources above on .
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 21 in (53.3 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 23 in (58.4 cm) |
| Leaf length | 4 in (10.2 cm) |
| Leaf width | 3 in (7.6 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 11 |
| Flower scape height | 12 in (30.5 cm) |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Pod parent: H. Tardiana Group
Registered cultivars that list Hosta ‘Halcyon’ as a parent:
- H. ‘El Niño’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Purple Rain’ (seedling (pollen parent))
- H. ‘Anglo Saxon’ (seedling (pollen parent))
- H. ‘Bix Blues’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Blue Ivory’ (sport)
- H. ‘Blueper’ (seedling (pollen parent))
- H. ‘Border Bandit’ (seedling (pollen parent))
- H. ‘Bulletproof’ (sport)
- H. ‘Canadian Shield’ (sport)
- H. ‘Carolina Blue’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Cool Dreams’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Cubby Bear’ (seedling (pollen parent))
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (IV-2, small size):
- H. ‘Faerie Cups’ (2010)
- H. ‘Blue Belle’ (1988)
- H. ‘Blue Danube’ (1988)
- H. ‘Blue Skies’ (1988)
- H. ‘Brother Ronald’ (1988)
- H. ‘Curlew’ (1988)
Related guides
Looking for ‘Halcyon’ 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 ‘Halcyon’ · What to expect from hostas sold on Amazon
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Registration data: AHS Registry #2422. How we check this data.