H. ‘Shady Choice’

AI-generated watercolor illustration of Hosta 'Shady Choice' (not a photograph)
AI-generated watercolor illustration by The Hosta Farm — not a photograph of this cultivar. How we use images

Hosta ‘Shady Choice’ is a registered cultivar () .

Year registered1998
Section classIV-1 (Small)

Overview

Registered in 1998 as a sport of Hosta 'Tokudama', 'Shady Choice' is a small, mound-forming cultivar distinguished by its variegated foliage: medium green leaf margins frame a lighter center, with seven pairs of veins per leaf. The leaves are 7 inches (17.8 cm) long and 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) wide, with a dull upper surface and a slightly shiny underside, and a rounded base.

In the Garden

'Shady Choice' reaches a mature spread of 20 inches (50.8 cm) and a height of 16 inches (40.6 cm), with a fast growth rate that forms a dense, rounded clump. It thrives in partial to full shade, typical of hosta-growing zones, and is well-suited for the front of borders, rock gardens, or as edging. Its small size also makes it an excellent candidate for container cultivation. Pair with fine-textured shade perennials such as ferns or Heuchera for contrast.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Slugs and deer may damage foliage; monitor regularly and employ control measures as needed.

This summary was generated with AI from the registry record and has not been reviewed yet; the registry data on this page is the reference. How we use AI.

Size and leaf

Clump height16 in (40.6 cm)
Clump width20 in (50.8 cm)
Leaf length7 in (17.8 cm)
Leaf width3.5 in (8.9 cm)
Vein pairs7
Leafdull on top; slightly shiny underneath
Flower scape height26–28 in (66.0–71.1 cm)

From the American Hosta Society Registry record.

Parentage

  • Sport parent: Sport of H. 'Tokudama'

Similar cultivars

Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (IV-1, small size):

Related guides

Registration data: AHS Registry #5070. How we check this data.