Hosta 'Halcyon' is a classic blue leafed hosta known for its deeply corrugated heart shaped foliage and tidy mounding habit. It maintains its intense blue color longer into the season than many other varieties offering cool contrast in shaded garden spaces. In mid to late summer slender lavender flower spikes rise above the foliage attracting pollinators and adding vertical interest.
Height & Spread: 15 - 18 in x 30 - 36 in
Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
Light Requirements: Part shade to full shade
Soil Preference: Moist, rich, well drained soil
Watering Needs: Moderate; consistent moisture preferred
Deer Resistance: Prone to deer browsing, protect in high pressure areas
Native Status
'Halcyon' is a cultivar derived from Hosta tokudama and Hosta sieboldiana, both of which are native to Japan. It is not native to North America but performs well in shaded gardens across temperate climates.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- The funnel shaped lavender flowers are visited by bumblebees and other long tongued bees collecting nectar and pollen in midsummer.
Hummingbirds
- Slender flower spikes attract Ruby Throated Hummingbirds seeking nectar rich tubular blooms.
Beneficial Insects
- Foliage clumps provide daytime cover for ground beetles and predatory insects that help control garden pests.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 30 - 36 in apart to allow full mounding and minimize crowding in shaded beds or under tree canopies.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for shaded borders, woodland gardens, and mixed hosta collections where the foliage color adds depth and texture. Effective as a specimen plant or massed groundcover.
Companion Plants
- Asarum europaeum (European Wild Ginger) - Glossy green foliage hugs the ground, filling gaps beneath the larger hosta leaves.
- Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern) - Adds coppery new fronds and feathery texture that contrasts the smooth blue hosta leaves.
- Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' - Silvery heart shaped leaves echo the hosta form and lighten the shaded area.
- Heuchera 'Palace Purple' - Deep burgundy foliage provides rich color contrast and similar growth habits.
- Epimedium x rubrum - Delicate spring flowers and drought tolerant foliage make it a useful underlayer in dry shade.