Red petioles are one of those hosta details gardeners love—until the foliage grows up and hides them. H. ‘Cherry Cheesecake’ was bred to change that.
 
Its bright yellow leaves stand upright on brilliant red petioles, with the red color extending right into the base of the leaf. Instead of disappearing beneath the foliage, the color becomes part of the display. The upright form only adds to the effect, holding those red stems where you can appreciate them.
 
And the red doesn't stop at the petioles. Red bracts and straight red scapes continue the color story when the plant blooms, while lavender flowers add another layer of contrast.
 
This is a hosta that doesn't ask you to bend down and search for its best feature. It stands at attention and shows it off.
 
Why You’ll Love It
Brilliant yellow foliage
Bright red petioles that remain highly visible
Red color extends into the base of the leaves
Upright form puts the foliage and petioles on display
Red bracts and scapes continue the color through bloom season
A standout choice for anyone who loves red in their hostas
 
Connoisseur’s Corner
Registered in 2026, ‘Cherry Cheesecake’ comes from Bob Solberg and is a sibling of H. ‘Ruby Earrings’. Its pedigree is a complex one, involving multiple crosses that bring together ‘Smiley Face’, ‘Beet Salad’, ‘Peacock Strut’, ‘Sun Shower’, ‘Designer Genes’, and a numbered seedling.
 
What makes Hosta ‘Cherry Cheesecake’ especially interesting is what Solberg was trying to accomplish with those red-petioled hostas. Gardeners had been telling him that red petioles were beautiful—but once the plants matured, you often couldn't see them. ‘Cherry Cheesecake’ is his answer to that complaint: an upright yellow hosta that puts the red front and center, with the color reaching well into the leaf itself.