Hosta Kiwi Highlights OS

Hosta ‘Kiwi Highlights’ is a distinctive streaked hosta introduced by Barry Sligh of New Zealand, bred from the cross of ‘Kiwi Classic’ × ‘Kiwi Splash’. This cultivar is especially valued as a splashed breeder, admired for its dynamic foliage and genetic variability.

The blue-green leaves are splashed and streaked with cream, creating a lively, painterly effect where no two leaves are alike. As an unstable streaked hosta, coloration and patterning can vary widely from leaf to leaf and plant to plant, which is exactly what makes ‘Kiwi Highlights’ so appealing to collectors and hybridizers. Plants form a substantial medium-sized clump reaching approximately 24 inches tall and 49 inches wide, making it a strong presence in the shade garden.

‘Kiwi Highlights’ is also a fertile breeder, producing viable offspring and contributing to further hybrid development, including the seedling ‘Vibrant’. Its limited distribution adds to its appeal among collectors looking for something beyond commonly available streaked cultivars.

A bold, expressive streaked hosta combining ornamental impact with real breeding value.

Plant Details

Botanical Name: Hosta ‘Kiwi Highlights’
Registration Status: Not registered
Originator: Barry Sligh
Parentage: ‘Kiwi Classic’ × ‘Kiwi Splash’
Origin: New Zealand
Size Category: Medium
Mature Size: Approximately 24 inches tall x 49 inches wide
Foliage Color: Blue-green with cream streaking
Variegation: Streaked, unstable
Growth Habit: Clumping perennial
Fertility: Yes – breeder
Primary Interest: Ornamental foliage and breeding potential
Known Progeny: ‘Vibrant’