The Hosta That Blushes Red Before Your Eyes
Hosta 'First Blush' is a captivating medium-sized cultivar from hybridizer Bob Solberg, registered in 2016 and patented as PP28,920. Solberg bred it from Solberg 48/49 seedling crossed with H. 'Beet Salad', capturing a dramatic spring emergence unlike any other green hosta. The first leaves emerge with blood red petioles and vivid red margins — then, as the second flush of leaves appears, those first leaves blush red in response, creating a living colour display that unfolds over weeks. By summer the foliage settles into a medium green with a slightly shiny surface, but the memory of that spring blush lingers in the reddish-green scapes all season. It performs reliably across Canadian hardiness zones 3 through 9. Patent PP28,920.
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Spring Emergence: Blood red petioles and vivid red margins on the first leaves — one of the most dramatic spring colour displays of any medium hosta.
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The Blush Effect: First leaves blush red when the second flush of leaves appears — a sequential, living colour event that unfolds over several weeks in spring.
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Summer Foliage: Medium green, slightly shiny on both surfaces, ovate with a rounded base — clean and refined once the seasonal drama settles.
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Scapes: Reddish-green scapes 66–71 cm (26–28") tall carry the red pigmentation through the season as a subtle ongoing accent.
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Flowers: Pale purple tubular blooms from mid-July through mid-August, with reddish-green pods that set viable seed.
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Size: 36 cm (14") tall × 71 cm (28") wide — a tidy medium mound with a moderate growth rate.
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Hardiness: Zones 3–9 — reliably cold-hardy across Canada.
| Feature |
Specification |
| Size (H × W) |
36 cm × 71 cm (14" × 28") |
| Hardiness Zone |
3–9 |
| Colour |
Blood red petioles in spring; medium green in summer |
| Light Requirements |
Partial to full shade |
Grower's Tip: 'First Blush' handles Canadian winters with ease from Zone 3 through 9, and the red blush effect is most vivid in the cool temperatures of a Canadian spring — plant it where you can watch the colour unfold up close from May through June. At our nursery in Bécancour, QC, we verify the signature blood red petioles and blush response before shipping. Our True to Type standard means you receive the authentic Bob Solberg selection, not a generic green hosta.
