Emerald Elegance with a Seasonal White Transformation
Hosta 'Irish Eyes' is a refined medium-sized variegated cultivar from hybridizers Dick and Jane Ward. The Wards registered it with the AHS in 1999, capturing a cultivar celebrated for its elegant light green centre and creamy white margins that transition to pure white as the season progresses. The slightly rippled leaf texture adds a tactile dimension that sets it apart in the border. It performs reliably across Canadian hardiness zones 3 through 9. Plant it where the seasonal colour shift can be appreciated up close.
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Colour Transition: Creamy white margins in spring shift to a clean pure white by midsummer — a dynamic seasonal transformation that keeps the clump visually fresh all season.
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Centre: Elegant light green centre with a heart-shaped base, providing a soft, cool contrast to the brightening margins.
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Texture: Slightly rippled leaf surface adds a refined tactile quality and catches light beautifully across the mound.
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Flowers: Near-white blooms in midsummer on tall scapes, complementing the pale, luminous foliage with understated elegance.
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Size: 43 cm (17") tall × 91 cm (36") wide — a full, symmetrical medium mound.
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Hardiness: Zones 3–9 — reliably cold-hardy across Canada.
| Feature |
Specification |
| Size (H × W) |
43 cm × 91 cm (17" × 36") |
| Hardiness Zone |
3–9 |
| Colour |
Light green centre, creamy to pure white margin |
| Light Requirements |
Partial to full shade |
Grower's Tip: 'Irish Eyes' handles Canadian winters with ease from Zone 3 through 9, and the white margin intensifies beautifully as the season progresses — it looks entirely different in August than it does in May. At our nursery in Bécancour, QC, we verify the characteristic rippled texture and creamy margin before shipping. Our True to Type standard means you receive the authentic Dick and Jane Ward selection.
