Hosta 'Lakeside Kaleidoscope' – Ever-Changing Patterns of Color

Hosta 'Lakeside Kaleidoscope' turns the shade garden into a shifting display of color and pattern. Registered in 1994 by Chastain, this medium-sized cultivar lives up to its optical namesake.

Botanical Profile

Family:	Liliaceae (lil-ee-AY-see-ee)
Genus:	Hosta (HOSS-tuh)
Cultivar:	'Lakeside Kaleidoscope'
Hybridizer:	Chastain
Registration Year:	1994

Shifting Patterns

The ovate leaves display an unstable, kaleidoscopic mixture of green, gold, cream, and white in streaks, sectors, and margins. No two leaves are alike, and the pattern changes through the season and year to year. The foliage has moderate substance and forms an open, arching mound. The effect is dynamic and unpredictable.

Collector's Kaleidoscope

'Lakeside Kaleidoscope' is for gardeners who delight in change and surprise. The unstable variegation means it may produce all-green or all-white divisions—remove these to maintain the pattern. It prefers bright shade for color development. The moderate substance requires slug protection.

Chastain's Optical Art

Chastain's 1994 Lakeside introduction brought the concept of "unstable variegation as feature" to a named cultivar. 'Lakeside Kaleidoscope' remains a favorite for those who view hostas as living art.