H. ‘Lightning Flash’

Overview

Registered in 2013, *Hosta* 'Lightning Flash' is a small-sized cultivar derived from the cross (*H.* 'Color Fantasy' × *H.* 'Alabama Gold') × *H.* 'Venetian Blue'. It is visually distinctive for its narrow, lance-shaped leaves that display a glaucous blue-green center irregularly streaked and flashed with creamy white, set off by flat, creamy white margins.

In the Garden

Reaching a mature mound 9 inches (23 cm) tall and 16 inches (41 cm) wide, 'Lightning Flash' is well-suited to the front of a shaded border or a rock garden. Its small stature and compact habit also make it an excellent candidate for container culture. For best leaf coloration and to maintain the glaucous bloom, plant in partial to full shade; companion it with fine-textured ferns or small sedges.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like many thin-leaved hostas, it may be susceptible to slug and deer damage; monitor and manage as needed in typical hosta-growing zones.