Rainforest Sunrise Hosta
Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise'
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Delivery and Shipping
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
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Plant Profile & Growing Essentials
Cold hardy, Compact/Dwarf, Groundcover, Flowering, Wet Soils, Attracts Hummingbirds, Container Friendly, Drought resistant, Edible, Fragrant, and Disease resistant
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Botanical Name
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Height
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Width
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Growing Zones
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Sunlight
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Growth RateModerate
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Flower Color
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Leaf Color
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Pollinator FriendlyYes
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Pollinator Required
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Bloom PeriodLate Summer, Early Fall
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Does Not Ship ToAK, HI, ID, MT
Rainforest Sunrise Hosta (Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise') brings the lush, layered beauty of a tropical forest floor to your shade garden with foliage that practically glows in low light. The chartreuse to butter-yellow leaves are dramatically framed by wide, dark green margins that intensify the color contrast and make each leaf look hand-painted. This medium-sized hosta creates a luminous focal point that lights up shadowy corners and woodland edges where most plants fade into the background.
Standout Foliage That Evolves
The leaves emerge in spring as bright chartreuse mounds that catch your eye from across the garden. As the season progresses, the centers deepen to a rich golden-yellow while the margins stay boldly dark green, creating dimension and visual interest. The foliage has a slightly rippled texture with prominent veining that adds depth to each leaf. Unlike thin-leaved hostas that attract every slug in the neighborhood, Rainforest Sunrise has substantial, thick leaves that resist slug damage and hold up beautifully through summer storms.
Summer Flowers and Wildlife Appeal
In early to mid-summer, tall scapes rise 18-24 inches above the foliage, bearing tubular lavender flowers that attract hummingbirds and native bees. The blooms provide a soft vertical accent without overwhelming the spectacular foliage display. Many gardeners leave the flower stalks in place to enjoy the wildlife activity, while others prefer to remove them and keep the focus on the bold leaves below.
Landscape Uses
This hosta works beautifully as a specimen plant where its brilliant coloring can take center stage, or mass several together for a river of light flowing through a shade border. The compact, symmetrical habit makes it perfect for containers on shaded patios or as an edging plant along woodland paths. Pair it with darker-leaved companions like Heuchera 'Obsidian' or ferns to make the chartreuse color pop even more dramatically. It's also exceptional in combination with spring bulbs, since the emerging hosta foliage hides fading bulb foliage naturally.
Easy Care Shade Solution
Rainforest Sunrise delivers months of vibrant color with minimal maintenance. The thick leaves naturally resist pests, and the plant tolerates a range of soil conditions as long as moisture stays consistent. It spreads slowly to form a substantial clump over time but never becomes invasive. This is a low-fuss, high-impact perennial that performs reliably year after year, asking little more than good soil, regular moisture, and protection from harsh afternoon sun.
