H. ‘White Swan’

Overview

Registered in 1995, *Hosta* 'White Swan' is a selfed seedling of *H.* 'Beatrice'. This miniature cultivar is distinguished by its small, pure white leaves edged with a narrow, medium green, slightly rippled margin, a color pattern that reverses the typical green-centered, white-margined hosta.

In the Garden

'White Swan' forms a compact, fast-growing mound 7 inches (17.8 cm) tall and 11 inches (27.9 cm) in diameter. It performs best in partial to full shade, where its white leaf centers remain brightest. The diminutive size makes it well suited for troughs, rock gardens, or the front of a shaded border, where it can be paired with small ferns or fine-textured groundcovers like *Viola* species. Its white scapes, reaching 13 to 18 inches (33.0 to 45.7 cm), bear pale flowers that blend inconspicuously with the foliage.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during dry periods; apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'White Swan' is susceptible to slug and deer damage, though its small, firm leaves may be less appealing to slugs than larger, thinner cultivars.