According to The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "H. 'Hatsushimo' = H. 'Hatsushimo Nishiki' or H. montana 'Hatsushimo Nishiki'."

Mikiko Lockwood in an article on The Hosta Library titled, A Little About Japanese Hosta Terms defines the term nishiki as brocade (rich-colored woven fabric) i.e. something colorful and beautiful.