Hosta sieboldiana 'Aurora Borealis'

This sport of Hosta sieboldiana 'Frances Williams' with wider leaf margins was originated by Thelma Rudolph and was registered in 1986 by Walters Gardens, Inc.

Forming a very large mound of corrugated foliage, this cultivar has dense clusters of near white flowers in mid June to early July.

It is often mistaken for the original cultivar and, according to The Hosta Handbook by Mark Zilis (2000), "...many plants labeled 'Frances Williams' may actually be 'Aurora Borealis'..." and this cultivar has also been known as H. 'Chicago Frances Williams' in the past.

Similar cultivars include H. 'Gilt Edge' and H. 'Samuari'.

Sports of this cultivar include H. 'Super Nova' (which is the reversed sport of 'Aurora Borealis').

One of the negatives of the cultivar is that it often shows signs of "burn" or "spring desiccation" around the edges of the leaves and between the veins which is also typical of H. 'Frances Williams'. This seems to be more of a problem in the spring and does not appear to be related to heat stress.