Hosta Athena

Hosta ‘Athena’ is a registered and highly regarded sport of ‘Aphrodite’, introduced by Hird in 2005. This medium-to-large hosta is prized for its streaked green foliage with cream-white expression and, most notably, for its exceptional late-season floral performance that sets it apart from many plantaginea-type hostas.

The broad leaves have excellent substance, reflecting the thick, durable texture collectors expect from this lineage. Mature clumps reach approximately 24 inches tall and 59 inches wide, with leaves measuring about 11 inches long by 7 inches wide, creating a bold, architectural presence in the shade garden. In late summer, ‘Athena’ produces large, fragrant, double white trumpet-shaped flowers from August into September, larger and thicker than typical ‘Aphrodite’ forms. Flowering is temperature sensitive and continues until nighttime temperatures dip below 50°F, at which point buds may stall and dry down.

Plant Details

Botanical Name: Hosta ‘Athena’
Registration Status: Registered
Originator: Hird, 2005
Parentage: ‘Aphrodite’ sport
Size Category: Medium to Large
Mature Size: Approximately 24 inches tall x 59 inches wide
Leaf Size: Approximately 11 inches long x 7 inches wide
Foliage Color: Green with cream-white streaked expression
Variegation: Streaked
Leaf Substance: Thick, plantaginea-type
Flower Color: White
Flower Form: Double, trumpet-shaped
Fragrance: Fragrant
Bloom Season: Late summer (August–September)
Temperature Sensitivity: Buds stall below ~50°F
RH Rating: RH3 (Uncommon – limited availability, occasionally offered)
Primary Interest: Late-season fragrant blooms and ornamental foliage
Garden Use: Fragrance gardens, shaded borders, collector hosta plantings