Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Fire Island Hosta: Yellow Leaves on Bright Red Stems
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Fire Island hosta stands out in spring with brilliant yellow leaves on bright red leaf stalks, the red bleeding up into the base of each leaf. As summer goes on, the leaves deepen to chartreuse, but the red stems stay all season. Mature leaves are broadly oval, lightly corrugated and rippled at the edges.
It is a low, vigorous grower, 10 to 14 inches tall and up to 30 inches wide, with lavender flowers in midsummer. It also holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Like all hostas, it belongs in the shade garden, not in the sunny, dry lavender bed.
Fire Island at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hosta 'Fire Island' |
| Foliage | Brilliant yellow maturing to chartreuse, on red stalks |
| Flowers | Lavender bells on 18 to 20 inch stems |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks mid-July |
| Size | 10 to 14 inches tall, 15 to 30 inches wide |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Best in full shade; grows in part shade |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Where it fits on a lavender property
Fire Island is a plant for the darkest corners, the places where lavender would not even try. Under a mature tree, along a woodland edge or on the north side of a building, its yellow leaves and red stems bring the kind of glow that sunny beds get for free.
Try it under trees with ferns and other woodland perennials, or as a low edging along a shaded walk. Its compact height suits the front of a shade border, where those red stems are easy to see. Keep the sun lovers and shade lovers in their own zones with the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Light: full or bright shade. Yellow leaves scorch in afternoon sun.
- Soil: evenly moist, humus-rich and well-drained; not waterlogged in winter.
- Water: during dry spells, especially under trees where roots compete.
- Slugs: the main pest in damp springs. Keep mulch thin near the crown.
- Fall: remove collapsed foliage after frost.
- Dividing: a vigorous grower, so divide crowded clumps in spring as shoots appear.
Mottled or distorted leaves can signal hosta virus. Remove and destroy affected plants rather than dividing them.
Edging and containers
Its low, mounded shape makes Fire Island a natural edging plant for shaded paths, and it is easy to show off in a container, where the red stems sit at eye level. In a pot, use a rich mix with good drainage and water more often.
About the plug tray
Fire Island is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, ideal for growers and for edging long shade beds. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Do the stems stay red all summer?
Yes. The leaves shift from yellow to chartreuse, but the red stalks hold their color all season.
Can it take some sun?
Morning sun is fine, but afternoon sun scorches the yellow leaves. It is happiest in full or bright shade.
Is it hardy in Michigan?
Fully. It is rated for zones 3 to 9 and needs winter cold to rest.
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