Variegated hosta varieties

Variegated hostas are hostas whose leaves carry more than one color, as an edge, a variegated center or streaks. SDSU Extension notes that white, yellow and green can appear on the same leaf. The table below compares every variety we list side by side.

Varieties
23
Height
0½–3 ft (8–91 cm)
Hardiness
USDA zones 3–9
Form

11 Medium

5 Mini

4 Large

2 Giant

1 Small

Compare all 23 side by side

All 23 variegated hosta varieties

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
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 Fire and Ice hosta up close Fire and Ice Reverse sport of Patriot with white-centered, green-edged leaves in a compact upright mound. Midsummer12–18 in (30–46 cm)Medium
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 Fragrant Bouquet hosta up close Fragrant Bouquet Large sun tolerant hosta with apple green leaves and creamy white margins. Late summer22 in (56 cm)Large
Leaves of Francee hosta up close Francee White-margined hosta with dark green heart-shaped leaves in a dense arching mound. Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer1–2 ft (30–61 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 Guacamole hosta up close Guacamole Medium hosta with glossy apple green leaves edged in dark green, tolerant of sun. Late summer1½–2 ft (46–61 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 Lakeside Paisley Print hosta up close Lakeside Paisley Print Small hosta with wavy green margins around a feathery creamy white center, 10 inches tall. Midsummer10 in (25 cm)Small
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 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 Minuteman hosta up close Minuteman Sport of Francee with very dark green leaves and wide pure white margins in an 22 to 24 inch mound. Early summer, Midsummer2 ft (56–61 cm)Large
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 Patriot hosta up close Patriot White-margined hosta with deep green leaves in a 12 to 20 inch mound and lavender summer flowers. Midsummer, Late summer12–20 in (30–51 cm) Medium (estimated)
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 So Sweet hosta up close So Sweet Vigorous hosta with green leaves and narrow creamy white margins, 9 by 12 inches. Midsummer, Late summer9 in (23 cm)Medium
Leaves of Stained Glass hosta up close Stained Glass Gold hosta with wide dark green margins, a 15 by 48 inch mound and pale lavender late summer flowers. Late summer15 in (38 cm)Medium
Leaves of Twist of Lime hosta up close Twist of Lime Mini hosta with chartreuse yellow leaves edged in green, 4 to 8 inches tall. Late spring4–8 in (10–20 cm)Mini
Leaves of Wide Brim hosta up close Wide Brim Medium hosta with rugose dark green leaves and wide creamy margins, pale lavender summer flowers. Midsummer, Late summer12–18 in (30–46 cm)Medium

How to choose

  1. Use the leaf pattern filter to choose between edged, center variegated and streaked leaves.

  2. Plan the light. SDSU Extension says variegated varieties benefit from more sunlight to keep their white and gold stripes, while very few hostas do well in strong direct light all day.

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

Compare side by side

Color Sunlight
Autumn Frost Medium 12 in (30 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
Fire and Ice Medium 12–18 in (30–46 cm) 3–8 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
First Frost Medium 16 in (41 cm) 3–9 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Fragrant Bouquet Large 22 in (56 cm) 3–9 (estimated) Late summer Full sun, Part shade (estimated)
Francee Medium 1–2 ft (30–61 cm) 3–9 Early summer, Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade
Frances Williams Giant 22 in (56 cm) 3–9 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Guacamole Medium 1½–2 ft (46–61 cm) 3–9 Late summer Full sun, Part sun, Part shade, Full shade
June Medium 9–12 in (23–30 cm) 3–8 Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade
Lakeside Paisley Print Small 10 in (25 cm) 3–8 Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Liberty Medium 2 ft (66 cm) 3–9 Early summer, Midsummer Part shade, Full shade
Mighty Mouse Mini 8 in (20 cm) 3–9 Early summer Part shade, Full shade
Minuteman Large 2 ft (56–61 cm) 3–9 Early summer, Midsummer 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)
Patriot Medium (estimated) 12–20 in (30–51 cm) 3–8 Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade
Sagae Large 2–2½ ft (61–79 cm) 3–8 Midsummer Part sun, Part shade
So Sweet Medium 9 in (23 cm) 3–8 Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade
Stained Glass Medium 15 in (38 cm) 3–9 Late summer Full sun, Part shade, Full shade
Twist of Lime Mini 4–8 in (10–20 cm) 3–9 Late spring Part shade
Wide Brim Medium 12–18 in (30–46 cm) 3–8 Midsummer, Late summer Part shade, Full shade

Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.

Frequently asked questions

Can variegated hostas grow in sun?

Only in part. SDSU Extension says variegated varieties benefit from more sunlight than dark blue ones, and that very few hostas, if any, do well in strong, direct light all day.

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