H. ‘Solar Eclipse’

Overview

Registered in 2012, Hosta 'Solar Eclipse' is a medium-sized cultivar of unknown pollen parentage, derived from Hosta 'Zany Janie'. It is visually distinctive for its broad, pure white leaf margins, which measure approximately 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) wide, contrasting sharply with the medium green leaf centers.

In the Garden

'Solar Eclipse' forms a mound 11 inches (27.9 cm) tall and 19 inches (48.3 cm) in diameter, with a moderate growth rate. It is suitable for partial to full shade in typical hosta-growing zones, where its wide white margins are best preserved with some protection from intense afternoon sun. The broadly ovate, cordate-based leaves, each 8 inches (20.3 cm) long and 6 inches (15.2 cm) wide with 10 to 11 vein pairs, have a slightly rippled margin and a dull surface on both sides. Green scapes rise 16 to 18 inches (40.6 to 45.7 cm) above the foliage. This cultivar pairs well with other shade perennials such as ferns or heucheras, and its medium size makes it appropriate for the middle of a border or as a specimen in a shaded bed.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like many hostas with wide white margins, 'Solar Eclipse' may be more susceptible to slug damage; monitor and manage as needed. Deer may browse the foliage.