The Gold Standard — Elevated to Legendary
Introduced by Iowa hybridizer and Star Trek enthusiast Kirk Brill, Hosta 'Captain Kirk' is a magnificent sport of the classic 'Gold Standard' — and a vast improvement on it. Boasting significantly wider dark green margins and heavier leaf substance, this large-scale cultivar commands attention in any shade garden. Its robust constitution makes it a reliable performer across Canada, from the maritime coasts to the prairie parklands.
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Luminous Golden Core: Large, heart-shaped leaves emerge in spring with bright chartreuse-gold centres that transition to a brilliant glowing yellow as the season progresses.
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Stunning Wide Margins: A very wide, dark green border encircles each leaf, providing sharp, dramatic contrast that holds its depth even in brighter light.
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Exceptional Leaf Substance: Heavy, corrugated texture offers superior slug resistance and allows the plant to handle morning sun better than most gold-centred varieties.
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Lavender Summer Sparkle: In mid-to-late summer, sturdy 76 cm (30") scapes rise above the 106 cm (42") wide mound, presenting clusters of pale lavender, bell-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds.
| Feature |
Specification |
| Size (H × W) |
58 cm × 107 cm (23" × 42") |
| Hardiness Zone |
Canadian Zones 3–9 |
| Colour |
Gold centre with wide dark green margins |
| Light Requirements |
Partial to full shade (tolerates morning sun) |
Grower's Tip: For the most vibrant gold centre, provide gentle morning sunlight — in deep shade, centres may remain more chartreuse. As part of our True to Type mandate, all divisions are observed in our Bécancour trial fields to verify extra-wide margin stability before shipping.
