H. ‘Sugar and Cream’

Overview

'Sugar and Cream' is a sport of 'Honeybells' registered in 1984 by M. Zilis of Illinois. Its leaf is dark green with a creamy white margin and slight undulations, 9 in (22.9 cm) long and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide with 9 vein pairs.

In the Garden

The registry gives an open mound 50 in (127.0 cm) across and 22 in (55.9 cm) high, with near-white flowers on scapes of 43 in (109.2 cm). The record has no growth rate or bloom dates.

How it compares

'Honeybells', the parent, is plain medium green with three or four large undulations at the margin. It matches the 50 in spread, is a little taller at 26 in, and has pale lavender flowers on scapes of 39 to 45 in. Pick 'Honeybells' if lavender flowers matter more than a variegated leaf; 'Sugar and Cream' has the creamy white margin and near-white flowers.

'Milk and Honey' is a sport of 'Sugar and Cream', registered in 2003 by P. Lynch. Its creamy white margin is wider, 0.75 to 1.5 in, and the registrant stressed that it does not melt out and that the flowers are fragrant. The plant is registered at 40 in across and 20 in high. The 'Sugar and Cream' record makes no statement either way about melting out or scent.

'Applause' is in the same show class, with a dark green leaf and a creamy white margin of 0.5 to 0.75 in, registered as upright and fast-growing, 55 in across. Its leaves are shorter and cupped, 6.5 in by 5 in, against the long, narrow leaf of 'Sugar and Cream'.

Flowers and other notes

The flower entry gives a color but no dates, and seed set is not recorded; for planting and slug control see our hosta care guide.

Sources: AHS Registry records for 'Sugar and Cream' (#5446), 'Honeybells' (#2627), 'Milk and Honey' (#3763) and 'Applause' (#301), hostaregistrar.org.