Hostas? Hostas. Hostas! Party Facts • Mark Zilis’ Hostapedia (2009) lists 43 species native to Japan, Korea, and China and over 7400 cultivars. • Named after Nikolaus Thomas Host. Also called Plantain Lily, Funkia • Introduced to Western (Europe) horticulture in late 1600’s , first grown in Europe in 1700’s from seeds sent from Asia. • German Physician, Philipp von Siebold (many hostas named after him) one of the better known importers of plants into Europe. More Party Facts • First major shipment from Japan to U.S. organized by Thomas Hogg, Jr., who was appointed U.S. Marshal to Japan by President Lincoln in 1862. • Hostas are a godsend for shady yards; they tolerate a range from almost full shade to partial sun. • American Hosta Society named the Hosta as the “Friendship Plant”. They are designed to “chop up and pass over the fence” (hostahosta.com) Even More Party Facts

• TOLERATES BLACK WALNUT TREES (Juglone)!! • Hostas require 4-6 weeks of temperatures below 42 degrees, so having them as houseplants is challenging. • Each Hosta flower is only open for 1 day • HOSTAS ARE EDIBLE!!! Naming a Hosta • Class: Monocotyledon (same as lilies, grasses) one seed leaf, parallel veins, leaves and flowers grow from the crown, flower parts all in 3’s • Genus: Hosta (after Thomas Host), abbreviated H • Species: 43 species identified, “naturally occuring” H. montana • Variety: naturally occurring variation of a species Hosta, designated as variety (var.) or form (f.) H. montana f. macrophylla • Cultivar: cultivated variety based on a desirable trait (human intervention) H. montana ‘Orange Marmalade’ (or just H. ‘Orange Marmalade’) Common Terms • Albescent – leaves becoming white as they mature during the season • Lutescent – becoming yellow • Viridescent – becoming green • Glaucous – bluish green or gray or covered with a bluish waxy coating (“Bloom”) • Rugose - puckering, seer suckering or corrugation, dimpled • Undulate – wavy edges (rippled, piecrusted) • Petiole – leaf stalk • Scape – flower stem. Arises directly from ground; usually has bracts but no leaves • Sport – a mutation Hosta Size – based on mature leaf size (4-5 years old) • Based on length x width (square inches) • Miniature <6 • Small 6 to <25 • Medium 25 to <81 • Large 81 to <144 • Giant 144 or greater Leaf Shape • Described by ratio of length to width: • Round (1:1) • Oval (2:1 or 3:2) • Broadly oval (6:5) • Elliptical (3:1) • Lance shaped (6:1) • Check out hostalibrary.org/species: article by W. George Schmid on petioles and leaves (4C) Variegation

Solid color – no variegation Marginal variegation – colors on edges (margins) can be white, gold , cream (Aureomarginata on left)

Medio variegation – leaves have a lighter center than the margin (Gold Standard on right)

Streaked – (Spilt Milk) Other Attributes

• Leaf colors: green, gold, white, blue and shades in-between • Petiole: length, shape, solid color, flecked, striped • Leaf tip: tapered, sharp, rounded, etc. (see Schmid article) • Leaf edge: flat, undulate (wavy or rippled), serrated Other Attributes • Leaf texture: smooth, rugose (wrinkled, bubbly, puckered, seersuckered) • Leaf base: lobed, pinched, heart-shaped, flat, wedge shaped, etc. • Flowers: color, tubular, bell shaped, clustered • Venation: number of pairs, how they meet the leaf margin • Clump size and shape: mounded, vase shaped, fountain shaped, etc. • Substance: thickness of the leaf blade Petiole examples Flower Scape Bracts

Leaf bracts on H. ’Komodo Inflorescent leaf bracts on H. Dragon’ ‘Undulata Albomarginata’ Ripples and Seersuckering H. lancifolia

Leaf size Small Clump size 1 1/2’h x 3’w

Nice tight mounding shape, great for borders

Lance shaped, shiny, thin leaves

Flowers are lavender; a late bloomer (August) H. ‘Undulata Albomarginata’

“The one with white edges”

Leaf size Medium to large Clump size 18” h x 3 1/2’ w

Leaf edges slightly undulate, scapes up to 4’, flowers pale lavender, mid July

Very fast growth rate H. ‘Fortunei Aureomarginata’

Leaf size Medium to large Clump size 2’ h x 4’ w

Name means “gold edges”, thin margins

Flowers are pale lavender, July to August

Will tolerate some sun, but leaf color will fade H. ‘Gold Standard’

Leaf size Medium to large Clump size 2’ h x 3-5’ w

Medio-varigated, leaf edges flat, center changes from light green to gold as season progresses

Flower lavender, July-August H. ‘Royal Standard’

Leaf size medium/Large Clump size 2’ h x 5’ w

Leaves medium green, upright, with slightly undulate edges, 8-9 vp

Large white flowers, very fragrant, blooms in mid- August - September

Vigorous and fast growing H. plantaginea (August Lily)

Leaf size Medium/Large Clump size 2’ h x 4-5’ w

Leaves ovate to broadly ovate, shiny light green with 9-11 vp. Very lobed base.

August blooming flowers pure white, up to 3” x 6”, nocturnal, fragrant H. ‘Sum and Substance’ Leaf Size Giant Clump size 3’ h x 6’ w

Pale lavender flowers, July-August

Lutescent: leaves lighten as summer progresses

Very rapid grower H. sieboldiana ‘Elegans’

Leaf Size Large Clump size 2’ h x 5’ w

Blue-green in Spring; leaves become greener. Slightly undulate, with seersuckering

Flowers are the earliest to open (by mid June); near- white, dense clusters So, what Hosta do I have? • H montana ‘Aureomarginata’ • Mystery Hosta H. montana ‘Aureomarginata' Mystery Hosta

Leaf Size Large Medium Clump Size 2' x 5' 1-1/2' x 2' Leaf Base Very Pinched Very Pinched Leaf Shape ovate-oblong ovate Leaf Attributes slightly wavy, corrugated, arching Flat Leaf Tip Tapering, pointed downward Acute point Variegation width 1-2" 1-2" Flower color Pale lavender Pale lavender Vein Pairs 14-16 9-10 Pests • Slugs and snails – NUMBER 1 PEST. Use slug bait, barriers, hand removal. Hostas with heavier or thicker foliage are somewhat slug resistant; also vase shaped hostas like “Krossa Regal” where the leaves don’t touch the ground. • Deer - GOOD LUCK!! • Rabbits and voles • Black vine weevils Pests

• Hosta anthracnose – fungal leaf disease that occurs in warm, wet or overwatered sites • Hosta virus – see handout on HVX (see also web site learn.hostasdirect.com/hosta- diseases for great photos of affected leaves) Favorite Local Hosta Vendors

• Hornbakers, Princeton, IL • The Flower Factory, Stoughton, WI

• On-line: Gilbert H Wild Bluestone Perennials Candy’s Salad Bar H. ‘Gold Drop’ Leaf Size Small Clump size 1’ T x 2 1/2’ W

Nice dense, mound shape. Good for edging or ground cover.

Lavender tubular flowers in late June, many scapes H. ‘Helonioides Albopicta’ (H. rohdeifolia)

Leaf Size Small Clump size 14” h x 1 ½’ w

Leaves w/ thin margins, no waviness or ripples

Very short petioles

Purple striped flowers in mid August H. rupifraga (“Growing in the cleft of rocks”) Leaf Size Small Clump size 1’h x 1 ½’ w

Matte green, undulate leaves with very shiny undersides and long tips. Green petioles with red spots, becoming redder near the base.

Lavender flowers early to late September H. ‘White Feather’ Leaf Size Small Clump size 1’ h x 2’ w

Viridescent - White in Spring, then veins turn green, then all green in Summer

Lavender flowers in July H. ‘Virginia Reel’

Leaf size small Clump size 8” h x 1’ w

Lance shaped leaves w/ creamy white margin form a “pinwheel”. No waviness or corrugation.

Lavender flowers in July

Sun tolerant. More sun = whiter stripe

Courtesy of www.PlantsGalore.com H. ‘Golden Tiara’

Leaf Size Small to medium Clump size 16” h x 3+’ w; very compact mound

Green leaves w/ chartreuse margins.

Flowers deep lavender to purple in dense clusters mid July to early August. May rebloom if scapes are cut off after initial bloom.

Very rapid grower H. ‘Blue Flame’

Leaf Size Medium Clump size 16”H x 2’W

Powdery bluish leaf w/ yellow margins, turning green w/ white margins in late summer

Pale lavender to nearly white flowers in August H. ‘Fire Island’

Leaf Size Medium Clump size 1 1/2’ h x 3’w

Viridescent

Petioles are deep red

August flowers are lavender H. ‘June’ Leaf Size Medium Clump size 1 ½’ h x 3’w

Best color w/ morning sun (gold center).

Pale blue/lavender flowers from late July to mid August

Grown in shade H. ‘Lakeside Paisley Print’ Leaf size Medium Clump size 10”h x 30” wide

Medio-varigated: wide wavy green margins with cream center

Pale lavender flowers on cream scapes starting early July into August H. ‘Orange Marmalade’

Leaf Size Medium Clump size 20” h x 3-4’ w

Lavender blooms starting mid-July

Sun tolerant, but leaf center will turn lighter with a lot of sun H. ‘Touch of Class’ Leaf Size Medium Clump size 16” h x 3’w

Lavender flowers late July into August

A sport of June, but thicker leaves and wider, more defined margin H. ‘Tokudama Flavocircinalis’

Leaf size Medium Clump size 1 ½’ h x 4’ w (or larger)

Thick, heavily corrugated leaves

Flowers near white, may be up to 2” long; late June into July

Gold edge will not burn in the Spring Courtesy of www.PlantsGalore.com H. ‘Fragrant Bouquet’

Leaf size medium to large Clump size 16” h x 2’ w (but can get up to 4’ wide)

Very large (3” long), fragrant, near white flowers. Blooms late August into September.

Tolerates some sun. More sun = whiter edges. H. ‘Francee’

Leaf Size Medium to large Dense upright mound 2’ h x 4’w

Flowers very pale lavender (almost white), funnel shaped, straight scapes, late July to August

Rapid grower H. ‘Patriot’ Leaf Size Medium to large Clump size 2’ h x 4 ½’w

Leaf edges get whiter as the season progresses.

Flowers pale lavender from late July

Moderate to fast growth rate H. ‘Seducer’

Leaf size Medium to Large Clump size 2’h x 3’w

Very wavy pale gold margin

Pale lavender (almost white) flowers in late summer H. ‘Sweet Susan’

Leaf Size Medium to large Clump size 2’ h x 4’w

Vase shaped form, shiny leaves

Fragrant, pale lavender flowers in August, up to 3” long H. ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ Leaf Size Large Clump sixe 2’h x 5’w

Glaucous coating in spring gives a dusty look, glossy leaves in summer

Large, slightly fragrant, near white flowers starting mid August H. montana ‘Aureomarginata’ Leaf Size Large Clump size 2’ h x 5’w

Pale lavender flowers from early-late July

Emerges early so it may need protection from late frosts H. ‘Queen of the Seas’ Leaf Size Large Clump size 2’ h x 4’w

Blue-grey, glaucous leaves with some seersuckering

Leaves edges are strongly rippled (“piecrusted”) like waves, leaf tip twisted.

White flowers mid June to July H. ‘Spilt Milk’

Leaf Size Large Clump size 2’h x 4’w

Thick blue green “misted” leaves with streaks that look like milk has been splashed on them

Near white flowers from late June to mid July H. ‘Krossa Regal’

Leaf Size Large to giant Clump size 3’h x 6’w

Upright, arching mound. Blue green becoming greener in late summer. Very thick underside bloom.

Lavender flowers from late July to mid August H. ‘Blue Angel’

Leaf size Giant Clump size 3’ h x 6’ w

Thick, bluish leaves becoming greener in summer. Slightly corrugated.

Pale lavender to near white flowers starting end of June. H. ‘Devil’s Advocate’

Leaf Size Giant Clump size 3’H x 4-5’W

Blue green wavy leaves with very wide lime margins

Near white flowers, late June into July. H. ‘Earth Angel’ Leaf Size Giant Clump 3’ high by 5’ wide

Blue green with yellow margin which turns creamy white in late summer

Very pale lavender to white flowers in July H. ‘Empress Wu’

Leaf Size Giant Clump size 4’h x 6’w

Semi-upright form with pale lavender flowers starting late June.

Glaucous coating in spring gives blue- green appearance. H. ‘Komodo Dragon’

Leaf Size Giant Clump size 2 ½’ h x 6’w

Vase shaped mound

Rippled edge on leaves

Pale lavender flowers starting late June

Rapid growth rate HOSTAS!!!