First Blush is the first hosta with this much red in the leaf to date. Hybridizer Bob Solberg worked on this cross for many many years and when news broke of its introduction, his facebook page for Green Hill Farm had 4200 hits within the first 5 days. Parentage of this hosta comtains many crosses with one of its last ones being Beet Salad as its parent. This write up of Bobs describes it perfectly : 'First Blush' not only has green leaves with red petioles that extend into the leaf blade but also a thin red margin around the leaf, similar but much more dramatic than its parent 'Beet Salad'. However, the most exciting thing about 'First Blush' is that in spring the leaf between the veins will start to "blush" red from the tip of the leaf down toward the base. " We have found in our gardens here in Ontario, the red blushing continues well into September, and is more intense if the plant is given more sun. Plants grown in mostly shade do not have much red blushing, so keep this one in full morning sun or more.
