Hosta 'White Feather': What It Is and How to Grow It
Short answer
‘White Feather’ is a hosta whose leaves come up creamy to pure white in spring and then turn green with white stripes as the season goes on. It was registered with the American Hosta Society in 2005 by G. Heemskerk and is a sport of Hosta ‘Undulata’. The registry describes it as a small, mound-forming plant with a moderate growth rate and calls it a “strong grower” that “looks beautiful after it streaks up” (AHS Registry #5744).
The greening is normal, not a sign of a problem. It is what lets the plant feed itself through the summer.
Key facts
| Feature | Registry record | The Hosta Helper |
|---|---|---|
| Registered | 2005, G. Heemskerk | 2005, Gerardus Heemskerk (Netherlands) |
| Origin | Sport of ‘Undulata’ | Sport of ‘Undulata’ |
| Size class | Small (class IV) | Described as medium |
| Plant size (height × spread) | 7.88 × 12 in (20 × 30 cm) | 14 × 25 in (36 × 64 cm) |
| Leaf | 6 × 2 in, creamy white, lance-shaped, moderately wavy | Streaky green and white after spring |
| Colour change | Pure white leaves change to green with white stripes | — |
| Flowers | Medium lavender, tubular, about 1.4 in; scapes 21.5–25.5 in | Pale purple, funnel-shaped, July; rarely sets seed |
| Growth rate | Moderate | ”Slow to moderate” (quoting Grenfell, 2009) |
Sources: AHS Registry #5744; The Hosta Helper: ‘White Feather’.
About the size difference: the two sources disagree. The registry figure is what the registrant reported; the Hosta Helper figure is larger. We could not find a source that explains the gap. A reasonable working assumption is a small-to-medium plant that may grow larger with age in good conditions, but treat that as a hypothesis.
Why it turns green
A plant needs chlorophyll to photosynthesise, and leaves that are mostly white have very little. Such leaves are thin, grow slowly and burn easily in sun (The Hosta Helper: leaf color). ‘White Feather’ gets round this by greening up: the registry records that its pure white leaves change to green with white stripes (AHS Registry #5744). The Hosta Helper quotes a description of the streaky leaves in which “the outline of the veins appears as a ghostly impression” (The Hosta Helper).
An earlier version of this page said the plant “lacks chlorophyll” and “will barely achieve full growth”. That was wrong: the white spring leaves have little chlorophyll, but the summer leaves are green-streaked, and the registry calls it a strong grower.
The Hosta Helper’s term for a leaf that becomes greener during the season is viridescence (The Hosta Helper: leaf color changes). How quickly and how much ‘White Feather’ greens will vary with light and temperature. We did not find a source that measures this, so treat it as a hypothesis.
How to grow ‘White Feather’
- Plant in shade. Its white spring leaves are thin and burn easily (The Hosta Helper), and heavily variegated hostas should be grown in shade (Iowa State University Extension). Bright shade, or gentle morning sun at most, is the safest choice.
- Prepare rich, well-drained soil. Work 2–3 inches of compost into the top 10 inches, and avoid wet, poorly drained spots, where crown rot is a risk (UNL Extension).
- Keep it moist. Water at soil level with a soaker hose or drip line rather than overhead (UNL Extension).
- Mulch lightly. About 1 inch of organic mulch in early summer; thicker mulch encourages slugs (UNL Extension).
- Feed modestly. Too much nitrogen gives soft foliage and diminishes variegation (UNL Extension). See choosing a fertilizer for hostas.
- Space it. Small hostas are usually spaced 8–12 inches apart and medium ones 12–24 inches (UNL Extension). Given the size disagreement above, about 12–18 inches is a sensible middle ground.
In a pot
A small hosta like this can be grown in a container, which also makes it easier to keep in shade and check for slugs. We could not find an extension source with container rules specific to ‘White Feather’, so follow the general hosta advice above.
Pests
The Hosta Helper quotes Grenfell (2009) describing ‘White Feather’ as “very vulnerable to pest damage” (The Hosta Helper). The usual hosta pests are slugs and snails, with deer, rabbits, voles, nematodes and black vine weevil also causing damage (NC State Extension). Thin white leaves show slug holes early, so check plants in spring. If you use any slug bait, read the label for pet and wildlife safety. More options are in hosta pests and diseases and slug and deer deterrents.
Frequently asked questions
Is ‘White Feather’ a pure white hosta?
Only in spring. Its leaves then turn green with white stripes (AHS Registry #5744). For hostas that keep white in the leaf all season, see the white-centred and white-margined cultivars in white hostas.
Can it grow in sun?
It is not a good choice for sun. Mostly white leaves burn easily (The Hosta Helper). If you want a hosta for a sunnier spot, see hostas for sun.
Does it flower?
Yes. The registry lists medium lavender, tubular flowers on scapes about 21.5–25.5 inches tall (AHS Registry #5744), and the Hosta Helper gives July as the flowering time (The Hosta Helper). See hostas in bloom.
Related guides
Sources
- American Hosta Society Registry — #5744 ‘White Feather’
- The Hosta Helper (American Hosta Society) — Hosta ‘White Feather’; Leaf color; Leaf color changes
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — All about hostas
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension — Hostas (NebGuide G1683)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Hosta