Blue hosta varieties

Blue hostas are hostas whose leaves carry a blue or blue-gray cast in spring and early summer. The National Garden Bureau explains that the color comes from a waxy coating that develops as the plant emerges and fades through the summer, melting off in direct sun and washing away in rain. The table below compares every variety we list side by side.

Varieties
24
Height
0½–3½ ft (8–102 cm)
Hardiness
USDA zones 3–9
Form

7 Medium

6 Giant

5 Large

5 Mini

1 Small

Compare all 24 side by side

All 24 blue hosta varieties

Leaves of Abiqua Drinking Gourd hosta up close Abiqua Drinking Gourd Blue-green hosta with deeply cupped, seersuckered leaves and white early summer flowers. Early summer18 in (46 cm)Medium
Leaves of Autumn Frost hosta up close Autumn Frost Sport of First Frost with blue leaves and extra wide yellow to cream margins in a 12 inch mound. Midsummer, Late summer12 in (30 cm)Medium
Leaves of Big Daddy hosta up close Big Daddy Large hosta with thick, chalky blue, cupped and puckered leaves and white late summer flowers. Late summer2 ft (61 cm)Large
Leaves of Blue Angel hosta up close Blue Angel Giant blue-green hosta forming a 3 by 4 foot mound, with pale lavender to white summer flowers. Midsummer, Late summer3 ft (91 cm)Giant
Leaves of Blue Cadet hosta up close Blue Cadet Compact hosta with heart-shaped blue leaves in a round 12 inch clump and lavender flowers. Late spring12 in (30 cm)Small
Leaves of Blue Hawaii hosta up close Blue Hawaii Vase-shaped hosta with large, heart-shaped, powdery blue leaves and pale lavender summer flowers. Early summer, Midsummer2½ ft (76 cm)Giant
Leaves of Blue Mouse Ears hosta up close Blue Mouse Ears Miniature hosta with thick, round blue-green leaves in a symmetrical 8 inch mound. Midsummer8 in (20 cm)Mini
Leaves of Bressingham Blue hosta up close Bressingham Blue Sport of Hosta sieboldiana Elegans with large, corrugated blue-green leaves and white summer flowers. Midsummer, Late summer2–2½ ft (61–76 cm)Large
Cat and Mouse Mini hosta with firm yellow-green leaves edged in blue-green, a sport of Blue Mouse Ears. Midsummer3 in (8 cm)Mini
Leaves of Church Mouse hosta up close Church Mouse Miniature hosta with ruffled blue-green leaves and a subtle lighter green margin. Midsummer8 in (20 cm)Mini
Leaves of Earth Angel hosta up close Earth Angel Large to giant hosta with blue-green heart-shaped leaves and wide creamy white margins. Midsummer2½–3 ft (76–91 cm)Giant
Leaves of Elegans hosta up close Elegans Hosta sieboldiana selection with huge, rounded, corrugated blue-gray leaves and white summer flowers. Midsummer2–2½ ft (65–76 cm)Large
Leaves of First Frost hosta up close First Frost Sport of Halcyon with blue-green leaves and gold margins that turn white, in a 16 inch mound. Midsummer16 in (41 cm)Medium
Leaves of Frances Williams hosta up close Frances Williams Giant hosta with corrugated blue-green leaves and wide chartreuse to yellow margins. Midsummer22 in (56 cm)Giant
Leaves of Halcyon hosta up close Halcyon Mid-sized Tardiana hosta with frosty blue-green pointed leaves and pale lilac-blue summer flowers. Midsummer14–18 in (36–46 cm)Medium
Leaves of June hosta up close June Tardiana hosta with gold-centered, blue-green edged leaves in a 9 to 12 inch mound. Midsummer, Late summer9–12 in (23–30 cm)Medium
Leaves of Krossa Regal hosta up close Krossa Regal Upright, vase-shaped hosta with frosty blue-green leaves and very tall lavender flower scapes. Midsummer, Late summer3–3½ ft (91–102 cm)Giant
Leaves of Liberty hosta up close Liberty Sport of Sagae with blue-green leaves and wide yellow margins that fade to creamy white. Early summer, Midsummer2 ft (66 cm)Medium
Leaves of Love Pat hosta up close Love Pat Hosta with round, intensely corrugated deep blue leaves in a 3 foot clump and white flowers. Early summer19 in (48 cm)Medium
Leaves of Mighty Mouse hosta up close Mighty Mouse Miniature hosta with thick blue-green leaves edged creamy yellow, then creamy white. Early summer8 in (20 cm)Mini
Leaves of Pandora's Box hosta up close Pandora's Box Tiny mini hosta with quarter sized blue-green leaves centered in white, 3 inches tall. Midsummer3 in (8 cm)Mini
Leaves of Paradigm hosta up close Paradigm Large sun tolerant hosta with gold leaves edged in blue green. Midsummer22 in (56 cm)Large
Leaves of Sagae hosta up close Sagae Large hosta with frosted blue-gray leaves edged in margins that turn from gold to cream. Midsummer2–2½ ft (61–79 cm)Large
Leaves of T Rex hosta up close T Rex Giant hosta with matte, slightly wavy green leaves up to about 18 inches long. Early summer, Midsummer2½–3 ft (76–91 cm)Giant

How to choose

  1. Plant them in shade. NC State Extension notes that blue-leaved forms require deep shade, while green-leaved types will accept partial shade.

  2. Compare the Height column to place each plant at the front or back of a shady bed.

  3. Use the filters to separate solid blue leaves from variegated ones if you want a single color across the planting.

Compare side by side

Color Sunlight
Abiqua Drinking Gourd Medium 18 in (46 cm) 3–9 Early summer Part shade, Full shade
Autumn Frost Medium 12 in (30 cm) 3–9 Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade
Big Daddy Large 2 ft (61 cm) 3–9 Late summer Part shade, Full sun
Blue Angel Giant 3 ft (91 cm) 3–9 Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade
Blue Cadet Small 12 in (30 cm) 3–9 Late spring Part shade
Blue Hawaii Giant 2½ ft (76 cm) 3–9 Early summer, Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Blue Mouse Ears Mini 8 in (20 cm) 3–9 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Bressingham Blue Large 2–2½ ft (61–76 cm) 3–9 Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade
Cat and Mouse Mini 3 in (8 cm) 3–9 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Church Mouse Mini 8 in (20 cm) 3–8 Midsummer Part shade
Earth Angel Giant 2½–3 ft (76–91 cm) 3–9 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Elegans Large 2–2½ ft (65–76 cm) 3–9 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
First Frost Medium 16 in (41 cm) 3–9 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Frances Williams Giant 22 in (56 cm) 3–9 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Halcyon Medium 14–18 in (36–46 cm) 3–9 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
June Medium 9–12 in (23–30 cm) 3–8 Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade
Krossa Regal Giant 3–3½ ft (91–102 cm) 3–9 Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade
Liberty Medium 2 ft (66 cm) 3–9 Early summer, Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Love Pat Medium 19 in (48 cm) 3–8 Early summer Part shade
Mighty Mouse Mini 8 in (20 cm) 3–9 Early summer Part shade, Full shade
Pandora's Box Mini 3 in (8 cm) 3–7 Midsummer Part sun, Part shade
Paradigm Large 22 in (56 cm) 3–9 (estimated) Midsummer Full sun, Part shade (estimated)
Sagae Large 2–2½ ft (61–79 cm) 3–8 Midsummer Part sun, Part shade
T Rex Giant 2½–3 ft (76–91 cm) 3–9 Early summer, Midsummer Part shade, Full shade

Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.

Frequently asked questions

Why do blue hosta leaves turn green?

The blue is a waxy coating on the leaf. Clemson Extension says blue-leafed cultivars sometimes fade to green if that coating is rubbed off by strong rain storms or vigorous watering, and the National Garden Bureau adds that direct sun melts it off.

Can blue hostas grow in full sun?

Clemson Extension says most blue hostas need shade. In full sun leaf color is pale and leaf dieback may occur, especially during dry periods.

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