This non-registered cultivar is a sport of H. ruprifraga found in Japan. It has green foliage with thick substance. The petioles are purple-red and the leaves are somewhat twisted with a sharp point. It bears lavender flowers with purple stripes and purple-yellow anthers in September followed by viable seeds.

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.