Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Rainbow's End Hosta: Shifting Colors and Red Stems for Shade
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Rainbow's End hosta does not hold still. Its shiny, lance-shaped leaves come up with bright yellow centers streaked by dark green that jets in from the edges, and by summer those centers fade to creamy white. Then in August, red scapes rise above the mound carrying dark lavender flowers, so the plant gets a second act just as many shade gardens start to look tired.
It was named Hosta of the Year for 2021, and it earns the attention in a pot or at the front of a shade bed.
Rainbow's End at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hosta 'Rainbow's End' |
| Foliage | Glossy; yellow centers turning creamy white, streaked dark green margins |
| Flowers | Dark lavender tubes on red scapes 16 to 19 inches tall |
| Size | About 11 inches tall and 21 inches wide |
| Bloom | Early to mid-August |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Part to full shade |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Its place in a lavender garden
Hostas and lavender are not bed partners. Lavender wants baking sun and dry roots; a hosta in that spot would scorch by July. But almost every lavender grower also has a shady side yard, a north wall or a spot under trees. That is where Rainbow's End shines, with ferns and astilbe for company.
There is a nice echo between the two spaces, too. Its lavender-colored August flowers on red stems pick up the same color your lavender bed showed earlier in summer. Use the Companion Plant Planner to map both the sunny and shady areas of your property.
A natural for containers
At about 11 inches tall, Rainbow's End is the right scale for a pot on a shaded porch or patio, where the red scapes can be seen up close. Use a container with drainage holes and a rich potting mix, and water whenever the top inch dries. Pots dry faster than beds in summer.
Care through the season
- Soil: rich and humus-heavy, evenly moist but well drained.
- Light: morning sun is fine; hot afternoon sun can scorch the pale centers.
- Water: deeply in dry spells, especially the first summer.
- Slugs and spots: long humid spells bring slugs and leaf spot. Give the clump room for air to move.
- Fall: cut foliage down after a hard frost to clear away slug eggs and debris.
- Dividing: split crowded clumps in early spring as the shoots emerge.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the yellow centers turn white?
That is normal. The centers open bright yellow and lighten to creamy white by summer. It is part of the plant's charm, not a problem.
Are hostas safe around pets?
Hosta foliage is listed as toxic to dogs and cats, so plant it where pets will not chew on it.
What should I watch for?
Leaves with odd mottling or streaks that do not match the normal pattern can signal Hosta Virus X. Remove and discard those plants.
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