H. ‘Irish Breeze’

Overview

Registered in 2009 by K. Walek through the American Hosta Society, *Hosta* 'Irish Breeze' is a sport of *Hosta* 'Little Aurora'. This small cultivar is visually distinctive for its blue-green leaves edged with gold margins, a combination that reverses the typical gold-centered, green-margined pattern of its parent.

In the Garden

'Irish Breeze' forms a compact, upright clump reaching 13 inches (33.0 cm) in height and 34 inches (86.4 cm) in diameter, with a fast growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, where the gold margins remain brightest without scorching. Its small size and tidy habit make it suitable for rock gardens, troughs, or the front of shaded borders, where it pairs well with ferns, heucheras, and small sedges.

Care Notes

Water regularly during dry periods, particularly in the first growing season to establish roots. Fertilize in early spring as growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Irish Breeze' is susceptible to slug and deer damage, though its moderately corrugated, lightly cupped leaves may offer some resistance to feeding.