Originated by Dr. Ralph (Herb) Benedict of Michigan and registered on his behalf by Registrar, Kevin Walek in 2009, this cultivar is a sport of H. 'King Tut'. It is a medium to large size hosta with dark green foliage that has a wide golden-yellow marginal variegation. The ovate shaped leaves are heavily corrugated and slightly cupped. Near white flowers bloom from late June into July on scapes up to 25 inches tall. Seed set was unknown at the time of registration.

The registration materials state: "...believed to be a H. 'Tokudama' type."

According to The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "...'Gretchen Harshbarger' and 'Tokudama Flavocircinalis' appear to be very similar, if not the same."

The cultivar is named for prominent hostaphile, Gretchen Harshbarger of Iowa