H. ‘Red Hot Poker’

Overview

Registered in 2005, *Hosta* 'Red Hot Poker' is a small-sized cultivar bred from *Hosta* 'Dorothy Benedict' as both seed and pollen parent. It is visually distinctive for its dark green, broadly ovate leaves with creamy white, slightly rippled margins, combined with red scapes that exhibit little or no sun scorch.

In the Garden

'Red Hot Poker' forms a mound-like clump reaching approximately 16 inches (40.6 cm) in height and 40 inches (101.6 cm) in diameter, with a medium to fast growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical of hostas, and its compact size makes it suitable for the front of borders, rock gardens, or containers. The shiny, wavy, cupped leaves pair well with fine-textured shade perennials such as ferns or heucheras.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. The cultivar is noted for slug resistance, though standard hosta pest precautions remain advisable in high-pressure areas.