H. ‘Night and Day’

Overview

Registered in 2000, 'Night and Day' is a large hosta cultivar resulting from a cross between a *H.* 'Dorothy Benedict' seedling (pod parent) and *Hosta montana macrophylla* (pollen parent). This cultivar is visually distinctive for its dark green leaves with wide, creamy white, flat margins, creating a high-contrast bicolor effect.

In the Garden

'Night and Day' forms a substantial mound reaching 18 inches (45.7 cm) in height and 40 inches (101.6 cm) in diameter, with a moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical for hostas, where its dark green centers and white margins remain stable. The large, cordate-based leaves (11 inches long by 10 inches wide) with 13 vein pairs provide textural contrast when paired with fine-leaved perennials such as ferns or *Heuchera*. Its green scapes, 28 to 31 inches (71.1 to 78.7 cm) tall, bear pale lavender flowers in midsummer.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during establishment, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most large-leaved hostas, 'Night and Day' is susceptible to slug and deer damage in typical hosta-growing zones.