An Award-Winning Classic with Wide Irregular White Margins and Mottled Green Depth
Cynthia Tompkins originated Hosta 'Antioch' at Wayside Gardens in the 1920s, and Pete Ruh registered it in 1979 as a sport or hybrid of H. 'Fortunei'. The large, pointed leaves arch gracefully and carry a mottled light-to-dark green centre framed by a wide, irregular creamy-white margin that opens yellow in spring and brightens to a striking white by midsummer. No two leaves are alike — the irregular margin guarantees a unique pattern on every leaf. It grows vigorously across Canadian hardiness zones 3–9 and earned the AHS Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award in 1984.
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Wide Irregular White Margin: A broad, irregular creamy-white edge that starts yellow in spring and turns bright white by midsummer — the wide margin often encompasses a green trident in the leaf centre, a hallmark of the authentic 'Antioch'.
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Mottled Two-Tone Green Centre: Light and dark green mottling in the centre adds a sophisticated depth that sets 'Antioch' apart from standard white-margined Fortunei types and makes it identifiable from 30 feet away in a mature planting.
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Spectacular Arching Scale: Reaches 60 cm (24") tall and 140 cm (55") wide at maturity, with large pointed leaves that arch nearly to the ground and create a sweeping, dome-shaped clump that improves dramatically with age.
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Lavender Blooms on Tall Scapes: Pale lavender flowers rise on 75 cm (30") scapes in July, adding a graceful floral accent above the bold white-margined canopy.
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AHS Award-Winning Pedigree: Winner of the AHS Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award 1984 and a perennial top performer on AHS popularity polls — one of the best white-margined hostas ever introduced.
| Feature |
Specification |
| Size (H × W) |
60 cm × 140 cm (24" × 55") |
| Hardiness Zone |
3–9 |
| Colour |
Mottled green centre with wide yellow-to-white irregular margin |
| Light Requirements |
Partial shade to partial sun; 25–75% shade |
Grower's Tip: 'Antioch' is one of those hostas that truly defies description until you see a mature clump in full summer — it handles Canadian winters with ease from Zone 3 through 9 and the wide spreading beauty to 140 cm is topped with pale lavender flowers in July in gardens from the Okanagan Valley, BC to the shores of Prince Edward Island. We grow it at our nursery in Bécancour, QC and wait for the signature wide irregular white margin and mottled green centre to fully establish before every plant ships. Our True to Type standard means you receive the authentic 'Antioch', confirmed before it leaves Bécancour.
