A River of White Through Dark Green — Tri-Colour Depth at Its Finest
John Kulpa registered Hosta 'Ann Kulpa' in 1999 and named it in honour of his mother, selecting it as a standout seedling of H. 'Pin Stripe Sister'. The thick, heart-shaped leaves carry wide, dark green margins and a distinctive narrow centre that emerges a vibrant gold in spring and brightens to a clean ivory white by midsummer. A unique celadon-green jetting separates the light centre from the dark margin, adding a third colour layer that gives 'Ann Kulpa' its celebrated tri-colour depth. It grows vigorously across Canadian hardiness zones 3–9 and establishes a dense mound faster than many variegated peers.
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Luminous Gold-to-White Centre: Leaf centres shift from fresh spring yellow to brilliant ivory white by midsummer, holding their brightness exceptionally well and creating a striking halo effect against the saturated dark green margins.
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Distinctive Celadon Jetting: Unique celadon-green streaks where the light centre meets the dark green margin add a sophisticated third colour layer and extra visual depth that sets 'Ann Kulpa' apart from standard white-centred hostas.
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White Runs Down the Petiole: The ivory-white centre extends down the length of the petiole, creating a cohesive rivers-of-white effect from the ground up that is visible even before the leaves fully unfurl.
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Thick Moderately Corrugated Substance: Heavy, moderately corrugated foliage provides excellent natural slug resistance and a sturdy, high-quality feel throughout the Canadian growing season.
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Outstanding Vigour: Reaches 50 cm (20") tall and 115 cm (45") wide and is noted as an exceptional grower that fills its space faster than many variegated hostas of comparable size.
| Feature |
Specification |
| Size (H × W) |
50 cm × 115 cm (20" × 45") |
| Hardiness Zone |
3–9 |
| Colour |
Dark green margin with gold to ivory-white centre and celadon jetting |
| Light Requirements |
Partial to full shade |
Grower's Tip: Rich, well-draining soil and consistent moisture bring out the most dramatic contrast in 'Ann Kulpa' — it handles Canadian winters with ease from Zone 3 through 9 and protection from harsh midday sun keeps the white centres from scorching, whether you're growing it in the shaded ravines of Toronto or the cool woodland gardens of Fredericton, NB. We grow it at our nursery in Bécancour, QC and verify the striking multi-toned variegation and celadon jetting before every plant ships. Our True to Type standard means you receive the authentic John Kulpa selection, confirmed before it leaves Bécancour.
