H. ‘Nifty Fifty’

Overview

Registered in 1986 by R. Benedict as a sport of *Hosta* 'Dorothy Benedict', 'Nifty Fifty' is a large, mound-forming cultivar distinguished by its blue-green leaves with wide, irregular gold margins. The foliage is broadly ovate, measuring 12 inches (30.5 cm) long by 8 inches (20.3 cm) wide, with 12 to 14 pairs of veins and a distinctly blue-green center transitioning to yellow-gold at the margins.

In the Garden

With a mature spread of 36 inches (91.4 cm) and height of 25 inches (63.5 cm), 'Nifty Fifty' is best suited to partial to full shade, where its blue-green center remains most vivid. The gold margins may fade to cream or pale yellow in deeper shade. This cultivar pairs well with ferns, astilbes, and other shade-tolerant perennials that complement its broad, variegated foliage. Its substantial size makes it appropriate as a specimen or in the middle to back of a shaded border.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like many large-leaved hostas, 'Nifty Fifty' is susceptible to slug and deer damage; monitor regularly and employ control measures if needed in typical hosta-growing zones.