Ben Vernooij Hosta

The Hosta ‘Ben Vernooij’ is a striking, medium-sized perennial known for its exceptional foliage durability and intense variegation. It is a tetraploid sport of the award-winning ‘First Frost’ variety, meaning it has extra-thick leaves that provide superior slug resistance and help it maintain its appearance until the first frost of autumn. 

Key Characteristics

• Foliage: Heart-shaped leaves with intense blue-green centers and wide, feathered creamy-yellow margins that mature to creamy white as the season progresses.
• Flowers: Large, bell-shaped pale lavender flowers bloom on tall stems during mid-summer.
• Size: Typically reaches 12–18 inches tall and spreads 24–36 inches wide.
  Growth Habit: Clump-forming with a mounded, slightly spreading form.

Growing Requirements

• Light: Performs best in part to full shade. Filtered or morning sun helps maximize the color contrast of the variegated leaves.
• Soil: Prefers rich, moist, and well-drained soil. It is tolerant of various soil types, including clay and acidic soils.
• Hardiness: Highly adaptable, thriving in USDA Zones 3–9.
• Maintenance: Low maintenance; simply remove spent flower stalks and trim back dead foliage in early spring.