H. ‘Lionheart’

Overview

A sport of *Hosta* 'Robin Hood' registered in 2009, 'Lionheart' is a medium-sized cultivar distinguished by its reverse-variegated foliage: a pure white leaf center framed by medium blue-green margins. The broad, lightly corrugated leaves are broadly ovate with cordate bases and carry a glaucous bloom on both surfaces.

In the Garden

'Lionheart' forms a slow-growing, mound-like clump reaching 14 inches (35.6 cm) in height and 30 inches (76.2 cm) in diameter, making it suitable for mid-border positions or as a specimen in shade gardens. It performs best in partial to full shade, where the white leaf centers remain stable and do not scorch. Companion plantings with fine-textured ferns or dark-leaved heucheras provide contrast; its moderate size also suits container cultivation.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, particularly during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as growth emerges. Standard hosta pests include slugs and snails, which may damage the tender white leaf tissue; deer are also known to browse hostas in typical hosta-growing zones.