Hosta x ‘Fire & Ice’ is a compact, non-native hybrid hosta valued for its crisp, high-contrast foliage and elegant form. Its leaves feature pure white centers surrounded by deep green margins, making it a bold focal point in shady garden spaces. Lavender blooms appear on short stalks in midsummer, attracting pollinators while adding soft vertical contrast to the mounded foliage. Growing about 12 to 18 inches tall and wide, ‘Fire & Ice’ is ideal for small shaded beds, containers, and woodland borders.

Why choose ‘Fire & Ice’ Hosta:

• Striking variegation: White-centered leaves with dark green edges create dramatic contrast

• Shade performance: Brightens dark corners and complements other woodland plants

• Compact habit: Excellent for tight spaces, edging, or containers

Cultivating tips:

• Sun exposure: Thrives in part to full shade

• Soil needs: Prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil with high organic content

• Maintenance: Very low-maintenance; divide clumps every few years to refresh

Designs for your garden:

• Foundation plantings: Adds contrast and elegance beneath shrubs or along shaded walls

• Shade gardens: Perfect when massed or paired with ferns, native wildflowers, or sedges

• Container plantings: Makes a bold statement in pots for shaded patios or entryways

Ecological considerations:

• Non-native cultivar: Limited ecological benefits, but blooms do support some pollinators

• Best used with natives: Combine with native species to boost biodiversity

• Reliable and long-lived: A strong performer in stable, shady settings

Looking for native alternatives?

Tiarella cordifolia – Foamflower: A native shade groundcover with frothy white blooms and decorative foliage for woodland edges.                                                                                                  Carex pensylvanica – Pennsylvania Sedge: A soft, grass-like native ideal for dry shade under trees and as a natural lawn alternative.
Phlox divaricata – Wild Blue Phlox: A spring-blooming native with fragrant blue flowers that brighten woodland gardens and attract pollinators.