This fast growing, medium size (19 inches high by 40 inches wide) plant has greenish-white medial variegations and a somewhat upright growth habit. The leaves are moderately corrugated, wavy, slightly shiny on top and come to a tip. Lavender flowers bloom from late July into August. It sets seeds but the viability was undetermined at the time of registration.

John Kulpa of Michigan registered this cultivar in 1989 as a "probable" sport of H. 'Fortunei Hyacinthina' although, according to The Hosta Handbook by Mark Zilis (2000), "...it does not act like 'Fortunei Hyacinthina' at all."

The registration materials state: "...colorful foliage, thick substance and excellent growth rate...center darkens to yellow, chartreuse or green depending upon light, temperature and age...Parentage Unknown..."

From the Field Guide to Hostas by Mark Zilis (2014), "That cannot be since 'Second Wind', the green-leaved sport of 'Whirlwind' is not at all like 'Fortunei Hyacinthina'."

The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by Diana Grenfell (2009) states: "Leaf color varies with temperature and the age of the plant...Vigorous and easy to grow. Makes a superb ground cover...Differs from other medio-variegated hostas by its broad, twisted leaves on long petioles and the conspicuous green veins on the leaf's surface."

This cultivar was winner of the Benedict Garden Performance Medal for 2007.

The Hosta Journal (2018 Vol. 49 No. R) states that this cultivar was originally registered as 'Academy Little Prother' which was a typographical error that has now been corrected.

"A wonderful example of a H. fortunei sport, 'Whirlwind' far exceeds what one might expect from a rather ho-hum group of plants. Lance-shaped, medio-variegated (green/cream) leaves spike upwards, each leaf with a twist. Available from Tom Schmid for less than $100.00."

16 17.9 1993 #20 1997 #22 1998 #14 1999 #20 2001 #15 2002 #16 2003 #12 2004 #20 2005 #20 2006 #20 2007 #23 2008 #16 2009 #15 2010 #17 2015 #20 2016 #17