It must be admitted that among the hundreds of varieties of hosts, quite ordinary specimens are often found, like twin brothers similar to each other. In pursuit of commercial success, manufacturers are releasing varieties that are little distinguishable from existing ones. And they do not have any special qualities: a strip along the edge of the leaf or in the center, wider or narrower is a common thing. You have to be a very knowledgeable specialist to determine the name of such hosts offhand.
The breeders themselves admit that the real success consists in obtaining a hosta that can be recognized immediately, even at some distance and without looking at the tag.
Star cast
In world breeding, in addition to varieties that have already become classics, there are wonderful, absolutely extraordinary and irreplaceable cultivars, which are happiness for a true collector to have. All of them are absolutely recognizable due to the shape and size of the bush, the texture or color of the leaves. In other words, these are real stars in the vast hosta world.
‘Patriot’
I have the hosta ‘Patriot’ in the first place in the star list, and this is not accidental. It was with her, seen 30 years ago in a private garden, that my collection began. Then we had the most common species of plants growing in our gardens.
Among them, only one stood out sharply with its ideal shape, slightly reaped leaves and, most importantly, the snow-white edging of the leaves. As it turned out later, the white stripe of this hosta is the brightest of such stripes of all existing varieties, does not change color throughout the season, whereas in other varieties it can be creamy white and fade by autumn.
Absolutely recognizable and completely trouble-free variety. It’s growing pretty fast. It feels better in conditions of sparse shade: white edges burn in the sun. The plant always has a fresh and elegant look — this is a great choice when creating a “white” garden or flower garden.
‘Sum and Substance’
This hosta has absolutely phenomenal qualities. Firstly, she belongs to the yellow hosts — she is not afraid of sunlight. Moreover, it only gets prettier in the sun, acquiring a bright yellow color. And secondly, from the general range of ordinary hosts, it is distinguished by its huge size — over time it turns into a real monster and requires a lot of space to live. Huge, like burdocks, leaves, tall peduncles! It impresses with its power.
‘Halcyon’
The most valuable variety ‘Halcyon’, the bluest of all available in the register, became the progenitor of many varieties, giving them their valuable qualities – dense waxy leaves and their smooth surface, resistance to slugs.
Among her offspring as many as 26 (!) varieties are such as ‘El Niño’, ‘First Frost’, ‘Paradise Joyce’, ‘Devon Green’, ‘Blue Ivory’, ‘Bulletproof’ and others. For its merits, this variety has an award from the British Royal Horticultural Society.
Varieties derived from ‘Halcyon’: ‘Bulletproof’ (1), ‘First Frost’ (2), ‘El Niño’ (3)
‘Liberty’
From the general row, a large hosta ‘Liberty’ stands out with its soaring large heart-shaped dense, slightly fluted leaves of yellow-green color with light edging on high petioles. It refers to varieties that turn yellow by the end of summer.
Majestic and memorable hosta, adult bushes reach a diameter of 135 cm and a height of 65 cm. It grows slowly. It is perfect for planting both solo and in mixed solar compositions.
‘Praying Hands’
An unusual, I would even say, strange variety of ‘Praying Hands’ — inexperienced observers are surprised to recognize the hosta in it. Narrow dark green lanceolate leaves with a slightly wavy edge, edged with a barely noticeable thin light border, grow vertically, as if palms facing the sky, folded in supplication. The unusual shape of the bush gave the name to the variety. It grows extremely slowly, but eventually reaches a diameter of 75 cm, a height of 45 cm.
‘Krossa Regal’
A completely unique beauty-a hosta of size L. It is distinguished by the characteristic vase-shaped shape of the bush, it has silvery-bluish leaves, tall peduncles with lavender flowers.
‘Thunderbolt’
A great memorable hosta, and really capable of striking anyone with its size like lightning. This is a powerful bush (size — L) with huge velvety-blue leaves with a feathery light middle.
From year to year, such a hosta is becoming more beautiful. Blooms with large white flowers.
‘June’
The favorite, very popular among gardeners tricolor hosta of medium size (M). It is loved far for a reason: there is some inexplicable charm in its dense bluish leaves with a blue-green border and a yellow-green center, which eventually becomes creamy-white.
‘Golden Meadows’
The amazing beauty of the medium-sized hosta ‘Golden Meadows’ has an unusual twisted leaf of a bluish-green color with a cream center, which changes to the color of chartreuse during the season. The edges of the leaves are frilled, as if gathered on a thread, which gives this hosta a special charm. Hosta-chameleon, refers to viridescent varieties, turning green by the middle of summer.
‘Rainforest Sunrise’
Hosta is medium-sized, has cup-shaped wrinkled leaves of golden color with a thin emerald border. At first it blooms chartreuse-colored leaves, later it becomes dazzling (literally!) bright yellow, and by the end of the season it seems to fade slightly, acquires a creamy shade.
‘Revolution’
This variety has an unusual coloring — it belongs to a rare group of so-called speckled varieties, there are very few of them. Dark green foliage with a cream—colored speckled middle – you can’t confuse it with anything, it is well recognizable.
‘Orange Marmalade’
Magnificent hosta of the new millennium (registered in 2002). Dense, powerful, slightly fluted leaves, as the name suggests, the color of orange jam, turquoise border. Stands out in the garden, visible from afar. Attracts attention with an unusual coloring. A medium-sized bush. The leaves are used in floral compositions due to their spectacular coloring.
‘Rainbow’s End’
Another new generation hosta (2005). Refers to the so-called striped hosts. Extremely bright, elegant, with glossy yellow-green striped foliage. Red peduncles and dark lavender flowers add decorativeness.
‘Striptease’
Very popular with gardeners is a tricolor hosta with a fancy coloring. The leaf is bluish-green with a narrow border, the center of the color of a green apple is outlined with a thin uneven white line, as if acrylic paint was applied with the wrong hand. In 2005, she received the title of the best hosta of the year from the American Society of Hosta Lovers.
‘Blue Mouse Ears’
An irreplaceable baby hosta with an original name is an unsurpassed masterpiece of breeding. Dense “silicone” leaves — in the shape of mouse ears. A charming baby gave birth to a whole “mouse” series.
Progenitor of the mouse series ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ (1), ‘Funny Mouse’ (2), ‘Mighty Mouse’ (3), ‘Snow Mouse’ (4)
‘Snake Eyes’
The painted hosta ‘Snake Eyes’ fascinates with its beauty, for people with imagination it can be associated with the hypnotic gaze of a snake.
New varieties
Hosta breeding does not stand still — every year there are varieties ready to take their place in the line of outstanding hosts.
Relatively recently, the hosta ‘Wheee!’ — this is exactly how, according to the originators, the amazed fans will exclaim at the sight of this masterpiece of selection. And you can’t argue with that! Hosta is really amazing and does not look like anything: bright lettuce curly leaves with almost no petioles create an interesting curly hummock.
The unusual hosta ‘White Feather’ is one of a kind, a kind of selection incident. In spring, like a ghost, it appears with white leaves, which only then gain chlorophyll and gradually turn green — provided, of course, that they are not scorched by the bright sun until that moment. A very capricious variety that requires special attention. I couldn’t find an approach to this wayward, sickly-looking hosta, and she quietly left my garden.
Among the novelties of recent years, which are worth knowing about, is the ‘Purple Heart’ variety with dense glossy dark green leaves, whose highlight is red petioles, from which this color spreads down to the middle of the leaf. This variety is capable of defeating any connoisseur and collector of hosta!
The listed varieties are recognizable, they will not get lost among others and can become the highlight of your garden or even its accent. If you choose them, you will not lose.
Leave a Reply