H. ‘Swiss Lady’

Overview

Registered in 2005 by L. Hirsbrunner as a sport of *Hosta* 'Elegans', 'Swiss Lady' is a small, slow-growing cultivar distinguished by intensely blue-green, broadly ovate leaves with irregular white margins. The leaf surface exhibits a dull, corrugated texture with a glaucous bloom on the margin above and a glaucous underside, while the wavy, slightly rippled margins create a shirred appearance reminiscent of *Hosta* 'Embroidery'.

In the Garden

'Swiss Lady' forms a dense, mound-like clump reaching 11.8 inches (30.0 cm) in height and 19.7 inches (50.0 cm) in diameter, making it suitable for the front of borders, rock gardens, or container culture. It performs best in partial to full shade with consistent moisture, and pairs well with ferns, heucheras, or other small-leaved perennials that complement its compact habit and variegated foliage.

Care Notes

Provide regular water during dry periods, particularly in the first growing season, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. While slugs and deer may browse the foliage, the thick, corrugated leaves offer moderate resistance compared to smoother-leaved cultivars.