From Lapis Bloom to Midnight Shadow: A Living Icon of Darkness
Doug and Mardy Beilstein bred Hosta 'Jet Black' from Lakeside breeding stock crossed with 'Skylight'. It emerges in spring with a deep sapphire-blue, waxy coating that commands immediate attention. By late summer the leaves deepen to a dramatic black-green, earning the cultivar its name. The lightly cupped, corrugated leaves have heavy slug resistance and often show near-white central veining. It grows reliably across Canadian zones 3–9 and anchors shaded borders with bold, mounded presence.
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Dual-Season Personality: Starts the year as a waxy, sapphire-toned beauty before transitioning into its namesake deep black-green by late August.
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Textural Depth: The leaves offer a gentle cupping and light corrugation that adds a sophisticated, sculptural feel to the garden floor.
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Illuminated Veining: A heavy wax buildup is so thick that the central vein often appears near-white, creating a striking contrast against the dark leaf blade.
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Slug-Resistant Vigour: Substantial leaf substance makes this cultivar naturally resistant to slug and snail damage through the season.
| Feature |
Specification |
| Size (H × W) |
60 cm × 142 cm (24" × 56") |
| Hardiness Zone |
3–9 |
| Colour |
Deep blue (spring) to black-green (late summer) |
| Light Requirements |
Partial to full shade |
Grower's Tip: Site 'Jet Black' in bright indirect light rather than heavy shade to maximise the dramatic late-season colour shift to black-green. At our Bécancour, QC trial fields, we verify the signature waxy emergence and Lakeside cupping before every plant ships True to Type.
