Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Hudson Bay Hosta: A Bright White-Centered Giant for Dim Corners
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Hudson Bay hosta is the plant to reach for when a shady corner feels gloomy. Each thick, slightly cupped leaf has a creamy white heart and a broad blue-green border, with streaks of apple green feathering between the two. It builds into a wide mound about 3 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet across, bright from spring until frost.
It is a sport of the hosta 'Eskimo Pie' with a much wider border. In a lavender garden it does not share the sunny beds. It brings light to the parts of the yard where lavender would never grow.
Hudson Bay at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hosta 'Hudson Bay' |
| Foliage | Creamy white center, wide blue-green margin, apple-green streaks |
| Flowers | Near-white trumpets on pale stems |
| Size | About 36 to 40 inches tall, 5 to 6 feet wide |
| Bloom | Mid to late June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3-9 |
| Light | Part shade to full shade |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Its place in a lavender garden
Lavender takes the hot, dry, open ground. Hudson Bay takes the cool, moist, shaded ground: under trees, along the north side of the house, at the back of a shady border. Grouped with ferns and astilbe, it becomes the bright centerpiece of a woodland bed. On a covered patio, one plant in a large container does the same job on a smaller scale.
The white centers are what make it special, and they read from across the yard, just as a row of lavender in bloom does. Plan both sides of the garden with the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Shade the whites: white leaf areas have little chlorophyll and scorch in hot sun. Afternoon shade is a must.
- Water: water deeply during dry spells, especially the first summer.
- Soil: rich, humus-heavy and evenly moist, but well drained.
- Slugs: the heavy leaves stand up to slugs better than most hostas.
- After bloom: cut the spent flower stems.
- Fall: cut the leaves down after a hard frost and skip heavy, wet mulch over the crown.
Giving it room
A 6-foot hosta from a small plug sounds unlikely, but Hudson Bay is vigorous. Space it as if it were already full size, and fill the gap with shade annuals for the first couple of seasons. Divide crowded clumps in early spring as the shoots emerge.
Two tray sizes
Hudson Bay is offered as a 72-cell plug tray and a 20-cell plug tray. The 72-cell tray works for growers potting up stock; the 20-cell tray offers bigger plugs for planting out. See each product page for current availability, and the Wholesale Hub for larger orders.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the white centers turning brown?
Too much sun or dry soil. Move it to deeper shade or water more steadily through midsummer heat.
What do mottled, streaked leaves mean?
That can be Hosta Virus X. Remove and discard affected plants rather than dividing them.
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