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Rainforest Sunrise Hosta

Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise'

Regular price $3507
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Delivery and Shipping

Delivery and Shipping

Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
$199+ FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Cold hardy, Compact/Dwarf, Groundcover, Flowering, Wet Soils, Attracts Hummingbirds, and Container Friendly

Specifications

  • Botanical Name
    Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise'
  • Height
    1 ft
  • Width
    1 ft
  • Growing Zones
    3-9
  • Growth Rate
    Moderate
  • Flower Color
    • Purple
  • Leaf Color
    • Green
    • Yellow
    • Variegated
  • Pollinator Friendly
    Yes
  • Pollinator Required
    No
  • Bloom Period
    Late Summer, Early Fall
  • Does Not Ship To
    AK, HI, ID, MT

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: This Hosta is unique because it handles more sun than most, needing 2 to 4 hours of morning light to bring out its brilliant gold center. Avoid harsh afternoon sun which can scorch the leaves, but keep in mind that too much shade will result in a more muted chartreuse color rather than vibrant yellow.
  • Soil: Aim for rich, organic soil that holds moisture but drains well, similar to a damp sponge. If you have heavy clay, mix in several inches of compost to improve aeration, or add peat moss to sandy soil to help it retain the hydration these plants crave.

Watering Requirements

During the first year, water your Rainforest Sunrise Hosta twice a week to ensure the root system anchors deeply. Once established, it is relatively drought tolerant but will maintain its thick, puckered texture best with consistent moisture. If the soil stays too dry for long periods, you will notice the leaf edges turning brown and crispy, and the plant will likely produce fewer lavender blooms in summer.

Pruning Tips

This plant grows from the ground up each year, so pruning is mostly about cleanup rather than shaping. In late autumn after a hard frost has turned the foliage yellow or brown, cut the entire plant back to ground level to remove hiding spots for slugs and snails. Think of it like clearing away old bedding to give the plant a fresh, clean start when it emerges the following spring.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring just as the "pips" or pointed tips begin to poke through the soil. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because this encourages soft, new growth that won't have time to harden off before the first frost. This late season surge makes the plant vulnerable to winter damage and unnecessary stress.

Brighten your shady spots with help from this reliable, low-maintenance perennial. There are over 1,000 Hosta varieties, but this one won the top award for performance, color, and low-growing form. Rainforest Sunrise Hosta (Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise') is a bold variety that makes an unforgettable ribbon of tightly-packed gold and green foliage.

This durable choice unfurls and spreads to fill in the base of larger shade plants for a showy splash of color. Forming a well-behaved mound, the new leaves come in dipped in gold. Over the season, the leaves take on a darker green margin that highlights their pretty shape.

In summer, you'll be delighted with their fragrant blooms. The pale lavender offsets the variegated foliage brilliantly. They are nectar-rich, with an "easy-access" shape, and they bloom at an important time of the season. Local Pollinators and hummingbirds both will adore these blooms as much as your vase bouquets will too!

Planting and Application:

You'll flip for the lush looks of a mature stand of Rainforest Sunrise Hosta! Grow this spectacular dwarf variety as a groundcover, or use them as "Filler" in your outdoor containers. Because the flowers are held above the foliage on long, slender scapes...they sway and nod in summer breezes. This welcome sense of motion helps cool you down on those long afternoons. Lovely little planter additions and edging with vivid coloration!

These petite perennials are certainly easy enough for beginners to gain success in the shade garden. But Rainforest Sunrise Hosta satisfies even the most discriminating collector. Try pairing it with a matching Stained Glass Hosta, or a vivid Autumn Frost. Or pair these bold foliage plants with radiant Coral Bells or Brunnera. The coloration catches all available light and reflects it in a soft sheen. It makes a wonderful complement to darker, larger options, such as Elegans Hosta.

Thoughtfully planned Shade Gardens can help you and your loved ones cultivate a rewarding hobby as serene nature watchers! You'll definitely want to plan a seating area near your shade garden to enjoy your space. Garden design professionals look for plants that give visual interest at every layer. Use Rainforest Sunrise Hosta near the edge of the planting to polish the look.

  • Leaves Emerge Solid Gold and Develop Dark Green Margins
  • Dynamic Foliage Changes Color Over Time
  • Mounded Clumps - Petite Plant is Big on Charm
  • Scented Lavender Blooms are Held High Above in Summer
  • Hummingbirds Relish the Nectar
  • Perfect Edging Plant for Shaded Areas & Useful "Filler" in Containers
  • Hosta of the Year Award

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Rainforest Sunrise is low-care and extremely cold-hardy, and shouldn't need winter protection unless you live way up north near the boundary waters. Thriving in partial sun/shade and full shade (especially in hotter climates) throughout USDA growing zones 3 to 9. Hosta have earned their reputation as easy-care Perennials. Hostas grow best in moist, well-drained, highly organic soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Provide moderate yet consistent moisture throughout the growing season and these appreciate a 3-4 inch thick layer of arborist mulch chips to help hold in moisture. Deadhead these after flowers fade, and clean the foliage away from the plant once it dies back in the autumn.

  • Pop of Color in Partial Shade to Full Shade
  • Easy to Grow In A Wide Variety of Soil
  • Moderate Moisture Needs
  • Long-Lived & Low-Maintenance
  • Textured Foliage Resists Pests & Slugs
  • Very Cold Hardy & Heat Tolerant
  • Divide Every 3-5 Years

Order Rainforest Sunrise Hosta from our expert growers today! Nature Hills works with commercial landscapers every day who count on our high-quality material...you can, too! We're excited to offer so many effective perennials to help you design a custom look. Find your favorite perennials for partial to full shade by filtering the options on our website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Hostas need full sun or shade?

Hosta does best in full sun in cooler climates but does appreciate afternoon protection from the worst of the summer sun, especially in the hottest of their growing zone range. In the hottest climates, Hosta like partial shade or dappled shade, and some varieties will do great in full shade.

Where do Hostas grow best?

Hosta plants love enriched, well-drained soil that is moderately yet consistently moist throughout the growing season. They appreciate mulched garden beds.

Do Hostas come back every year? Are Hostas a perennial plant?

With vigorous carefree growth, Hostas are herbaceous perennial plants that will return year after year with little maintenance.

What do you do with Hostas in the fall? What do you do with Hostas in the winter?

Hosta leaves will die back after frost but the crowns and roots remain intact and dormant until next spring. Prune back the leaves once they turn brown in the autumn and remove them from the plant's area. For winter protection, add a layer of compost or mulch over the crowns to protect them from the chill.

Do Hosta attract hummingbirds or pollinators?

Hostas are loved by pollinators and hummingbirds! All walks of beneficial pollinators will show up to sip their nectar.

What Shipping Options Do You Offer?

NatureHills.com works closely with our growers and nursery professionals to ensure we ship when it is most appropriate for your area. Our goal is to deliver the hardiest plants by avoiding extreme high and low temperatures. Check out our shipping schedule for more information and to learn our wills and don'ts when it comes to shipping plants. Find your Hosta Plants for sale here at NatureHills.com!

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