H. ‘Kryptonite’

Overview

Registered in 2009 by K. Walek of the American Hosta Society, this small-sized cultivar is a sport of *Hosta* 'Halcyon'. It is visually distinctive for its variegated foliage, featuring dark green margins that contrast with a lighter center, and a slightly shiny, broadly elliptic leaf form with a tapered base.

In the Garden

'Hosta 'Kryptonite' forms a compact, mound-like clump reaching approximately 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) in leaf length and 3 inches (7.6 cm) in width, with a scape height of up to 14 inches (35.6 cm). It performs best in partial to full shade, where its variegation remains stable, and is well-suited for rock gardens, edging, or container cultivation due to its small stature. Companion plants include other small shade perennials such as ferns, heucheras, or miniature hostas.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture and well-drained soil; apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as growth emerges. Slugs and deer may cause damage, so monitor and manage as needed in typical hosta-growing zones.