H. ‘Candy Kisses’

Overview

Registered in 2013 by R. Solberg, 'Candy Kisses' is a medium-sized hosta distinguished by its heavily rippled, broadly ovate leaves with a very shiny, waxy blue-green upper surface and a contrasting glaucous white underside. The leaf margins are medium green with heavy rippling, and the petioles and scape bracts exhibit purple coloration, adding further visual interest.

In the Garden

This cultivar forms a moderate-growing, mound-like clump reaching 12 inches (30.5 cm) in height and 24 inches (61.0 cm) in diameter. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical for blue-green hostas, where the heavy wax on the leaf surface is most pronounced. The nearly horizontal leaf habit and contrasting white waxy underside make it effective as a groundcover or in the middle of a shaded border, and its medium size suits it for container culture.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture and apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like many hostas, it may be susceptible to slug damage, though the heavy wax coating may offer some resistance in typical hosta-growing zones.