H. ‘Van Wade’

Overview

Registered in 1990 by Kuk's Forest Nursery, Hosta 'Van Wade' is a small-sized cultivar resulting from a cross between Hosta 'Dorothy Benedict' (pod parent) and Hosta 'Northern Lights' (pollen parent). The plant is distinguished by its dark green leaves with creamy yellow margins, the latter measuring approximately 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) wide.

In the Garden

'Van Wade' reaches a mature spread of 17 inches (43.2 cm) in diameter and a height of 12 inches (30.5 cm), with leaves 5.5 inches (14.0 cm) long and 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) wide bearing eight pairs of veins. It performs best in partial to full shade, as is typical for hostas, and is well-suited to small garden spaces, rock gardens, or the front of borders. Its compact size also makes it appropriate for container cultivation. Companion plants might include small ferns or shade-tolerant perennials of similar stature.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. As with most hostas, slug and deer damage may occur and should be managed as needed.