H. ‘Ringmaster’

Overview

Registered in 2011, *Hosta* 'Ringmaster' is a sport of *Hosta* 'Dorset Clown' that produces a stable, white-margined leaf pattern distinct from the heavily streaked foliage of its parent. This small cultivar is visually defined by its intensely blue-green leaf centers framed by creamy white, flat margins, with a glaucous bloom on both leaf surfaces.

In the Garden

'Hosta' Ringmaster forms a slow-growing, mound-like clump reaching 10 inches (25.4 cm) in height and 24 inches (61.0 cm) in diameter. It performs best in partial to full shade, where the blue-green leaf color remains most intense, and pairs well with other small hostas, ferns, or shade-tolerant perennials such as *Heuchera* or *Tiarella*. Its compact size makes it suitable for rock gardens, troughs, or the front of shaded borders.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, applying a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Ringmaster' may be damaged by slugs and deer, so monitoring and protective measures are advisable in typical hosta-growing zones.