H. ‘Little Brother’

Overview

Registered in 2008, *Hosta* 'Little Brother' is a medium-sized cultivar resulting from a cross between *H.* 'Mikawa-no-yuki' and *H.* 'Uncle John'. This sibling to *H.* 'Awakening Angel' is visually distinctive for its intensely blue-green foliage with flat margins, a glaucous bloom on both leaf surfaces, and its status as a large version of the popular *H.* 'Halcyon'.

In the Garden

Mature plants form a mound 36 inches (91.4 cm) in diameter and 19 inches (48.3 cm) in height, with a moderate growth rate. The leaves are 10 inches (25.4 cm) long and 5 inches (12.7 cm) wide, elliptic with a tapered base and lightly folded, bearing 12 to 13 pairs of veins. This cultivar performs best in partial to full shade, where its blue-green coloration remains most intense; it pairs well with ferns, heucheras, and other shade-tolerant perennials. Its medium size makes it suitable for border fronts, woodland gardens, or as a specimen in shaded beds.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, applying a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, it is susceptible to slug and deer damage, so protective measures may be necessary in typical hosta-growing zones.