Hosta Species And Cultivars

A species in botanical terms is a group of plants that are naturally occurring and that are capable of breeding together to produce fertile offspring similar to themselves. A species name is in two parts: the first part is the genus name (a genus is a group of one or more plants with similar characteristics) and the second the species name, e.g., Hosta longipes. A subspecies (subsp) is a naturally occurring but distinctly variant population within a species. Varieties (var) and forma (form) are smaller subdivisions within a species, again occurring naturally. Cultivars (cultivated varieties) have been specifically selected or hybridized.

Hostas are very garden worthy, and it is interesting to have in the garden some of the original species from which many of the cultivars have been bred.

The species H. fluctuans was, until recently, generally grown only in Japan. It is now more widely available and is very useful in that it flowers later in the summer than most hostas. It is of a medium size at 24 in high (60 cm), and has dark, wavy leaves, which are very useful in floral arrangements. It has tall flower scapes (the long flower stalk that comes directly from the roots of the plant) that grow up to 4 1/4 ft. (130 cm) high, with flowers that are white suffused with violet. It is not commonly grown, not because it lacks appeal, but because it simply has not been widely available. Bred from this species is the wonderful 'Sagae', one of the world's favorite hostas.

Hosta species

H. Clausa

A low-growing species (up to 8 inches high) that spreads extensively by stolons. This hosta has dark green leaves. The flowers never fully open. The species is seldom seen but the variety normalis is commonly grown. This does have flowers that open, to a blue, making it a good low ground cover plant.

H. Crispula

A medium-large (up to 16 inches high) species of hosta with deep green leaves with wavy margins irregularly marked in white. The flowers are a pale lavender. It is best planted in shade, out of full sunlight. This hosta is susceptible to wind damage, but that apart, it is a superb plant.

H. Decorata

A low hosta (up to 10 inches high) with dull green leaves with a wavy, white margin. The flowers are dark violet-blue. It is a stoloniferous, slow-spreading plant. It is not the easiest of hostas to grow, but seems to be increasing in popularity.

H. Elata

A large hosta (up to 30 inches high) with variable characteristics although generally with matt dark green leaves with undulating margins and prominent veins. It has mauve flowers with yellow anthers.

H. Fortunei

A large species of hosta named after the plant collector Robert Fortune. The identity of the species has a confused past and has now been lost. However, it has left a legacy of good forms that are much grown in the garden. They are not very tall plants, up to about 14 inches high, but they have a wide spread and make good ground cover plants. Their flowers are dark lavender or pale purple. H. f. albopicta has yellow leaves (which turn greener as they age) with green margins. There is a form of this with all-yellow leaves, without the green margins, called aurea. H. f. aureomarginata, as its name suggests, has golden yellow margins to its green leaves.

H. Helonioides

This is a vigorous hosta that, unlike most, does not mind the sun. This hosta has showy flowers held up high but the plant itself is small at only 15 in (40 cm), making it very useful for the front of a border. Although the green form is grown, much more popular is the version that has a white edging to the green leaves.

H. Hypoleuca

This hosta is an interesting plant because it has adapted to its natural environment in a most cunning way. In the wild it grows on cliffs and rock faces, which absorb and reflect heat. To protect itself from this heat, the leaves of this species have white undersides. It grows to about 14 in (35 cm) high, has very large, soft green leaves, and flowers for only a short time. This hosta is considered by many to be one of the loveliest, whether species or cultivar.

H. Lancifolia

A small-medium sized hosta (up to 12 inches high) with narrow leaves that are a shiny dark green. The flowers are purple. This is a stoloniferous plant which gently spreads. It is a beautiful species to try.

H. Longipes

It is fascinating because its name means "long feet." This name is derived from the fact that, in its native habitat, it pushes its roots deep into the cracks of rocks. It is well liked in Japan, but is not readily available elsewhere. This hosta reaches only 8 in (20 cm) in height and has green pointed leaves.

H. Minor

As its name implies this is a very small hosta, growing up to only 5 inches in height. The leaves are undulate and are a mid green. The flowers are light purple. (The white-flowered form alba is now generally considered to be a variety of H. sieboldii.) The plants are stoloniferous and spread. A good low-growing hosta for a shady rock garden or a peat bed.

H. Montana

A variable species but typically a large hosta (up to 30 inches high) with matt to glossy, dark green leaves. It has off-white to pale mauve flowers. An erect plant that makes a good specimen. One of the best forms is known as 'Aureomarginata'. This has very large glossy green leaves with irregular yellow margins and lavender flowers. A superb plant but slow to establish.

H. Nakaiana

This hosta has a Japanese species name that means "ornamental hair-piece" because the flower looks like the traditional hairpin worn by Japanese women. The plant grows to about 12 in (30 cm) high and is particularly fascinating because all the flower buds are on top of the scape.

H. Nigrescents

A medium to tall hosta (20 inches high) with leathery, dark green leaves that are dusted with grey on their emergence. Near white to pale purple flowers. It is called nigrescens because of its black emerging shoots.

H. Plantaginea

A large hosta up to 24 inches high with heart-shaped leaves of a glossy, yellowish green. The flowers are one of its great features: they are large, waxy and pure white. They open at night and are fragrant. The form japonica (previously known as grandiflora) has larger flowers. It is sometimes known as the August lily.

H. Sieboldiana

This is one of the best-known of all hostas. It is a large plant, up to 30 inches tall, with large waxy, blue-green leaves that have a glaucous bloom. The flowers are a dirty white. It is more tolerant of drought conditions than many other hostas, but is at its best where moisture is available. The variety elegans is even better than the species, with large, puckered leaves and lilac flowers.

H. Sieboldii

This is often confused with the previous species because of its similar name, but it is quite different. This is a low plant, only growing to 12 inches, with narrowish, lance-shaped leaves colored a matt dark green and 3-4 pairs of veins. The flowers are striped white and purple. It is a good ground cover plant that tolerates both excess moisture and dry conditions. There are several varieties and cultivars of which kabitan is one of the best. This has bright yellow leaves with a narrow, dark green, undulate margin. Flowers are a rich purple. A striking plant.

H. Tardiflora

This is a small hosta (up to 10 inches high). The narrow and lance-shaped foliage is leathery and is a smart, glossy dark green. The flowers are lavender in color and do not open until the fall.

H. Tokudama

A small to medium hosta (up to 12 inches high) which is a smaller version of H. sieboldiana. The rounded leaves are a rich glaucous blue and very puckered, giving it a distinctive look. The flowers are a dirty off-white. This plant is very slow to increase. It has several forms and cultivars of which flavocircinalis is probably one of the most popular. This is a much larger plant with irregular yellow-gold margins to its leaves and very pretty pale lavender flowers.

H. Undulata

This species is well worth growing but it is its various varieties that are particularly valuable to the gardener. It is a medium-sized plant up to about 24 inches high. The very wavy leaves have a creamy-white center and broad margins of varying green. The flowers are a soft lilac. The popular variety albomarginata (also sometimes known as 'Thomas Hogg') has mid green leaves with irregular creamy-white margins. The variety erromena is a larger plant (up to about 20 inches in height) and has green leaves. H. u. univittata is another of the larger forms (up to about 18 inches high). The leaves are less wavy than the species and have a well-defined central area of creamy-white, with broad green margins. Finally, the typical form of H. undulata which is usually listed as H. undulata var. undulata (sometimes also known as variegata) has smaller, but wavy, leaves with an irregular central area of creamy white and narrow green margins. This plant typically grows up to about 10 inches in height and has lilac flowers.

H. Ventricosa

A tall species of hosta growing up to 24 inches in height with handsome mid green leaves. Its large flowers are violet-purple and of good substance. It has a very popular variety aureomaculata which has leaves with a bright sunshine yellow center and irregular deep green margins. The yellow central portion becomes much greener as the season progresses, making it look quite different by the time fall arrives.

H. Venusta

This plant is one of the smallest hostas in general cultivation, forming a mound only about 4 inches in height. Its small, pointed leaves are a mid green, each with 3-4 distinctive pairs of veins. The flowers are a rich violet blue. This is a good plant for a shady rock garden.

H. Yingeri

This hosta is interesting in that it was not "discovered" until 1985. It is small, only 6 in (15 cm) high, and has the most wonderful thick, textured, shiny green leaves that sit flat on the ground. It is very useful for hybridizing, and is an excellent hosta in its own right.

Hosta cultivars

Antioch

A medium-sized hosta with whitish cream-margined leaves. Lavender-blue flowers. 14 inches high. Fast growing.

August Moon

A large hosta with pale gold leaves, at first opening pale green. Pale mauve flowers. Up to 24 inches high.

Big Daddy

A big hosta with very large round, puckered, blue leaves. White or pale blue flowers. Up to 36 inches high.

Blue Moon

A low, slow-growing hosta with round but tapering blue leaves. Mauve-blue flowers. Up to 6 inches high.

Bressingham Blue

A large hosta with rounded, puckered blue leaves. White flowers. Up to 20 inches high.

Buckshaw Blue

A medium-sized hosta with heart-shaped blue leaves with unusual upturned margins. It has very pale blue flowers. Up to about 14 inches high.

Carol

A medium-sized hosta with oval-shaped dark green leaves that have irregular white margins to them. The leaves have an attractive mealy bloom on them. This hosta grows up to about 14 inches high.

Chinese Sunrise

A medium-sized hosta with glossy golden leaves with green margins. A spreading stoloniferous plant. Mauve flowers. Up to about 24 inches high.

Elizabeth Campbell

A large hosta with green-margined leaves, with creamy-white centers. Lavender flowers. Up to 24 inches high.

Francee

A large hosta with dark green leaves with attractive narrow white margins. Lavender flowers. Up to 24 inches high.

Frances Williams

A very large and handsome hosta with puckered, deep bluish-green leaves, which are irregularly margined with a band of greenish-yellow. Very pale lavender flowers. Up to 32 inches.

Ginko Craig

A medium-sized hosta with narrowish leaves of a dark green with an irregular white margin. Purple flowers. Up to 14 inches. Very fast growing.

Gold Edger

A low-medium hosta that spreads rapidly to form good ground cover. Chartreuse green leaves. Lavender flowers. Up to 10 inches. Good for full sun.

Gold Standard

A very large hosta good for ground cover. Leaves are diffused chartreuse green and yellow turning to gold in sun but greener in shade. Pale lavender flowers. Up to 24 inches high.

Golden Medallion

A large hosta with puckered leaves that open yellow green but change to yellow. Near white flowers. Up to 18 inches high.

Golden Prayers

A medium-sized hosta with cupped, bright yellow leaves. Very pale lavender flowers. Up to 14 inches high.

Golden Sunburst

A large hosta with round leaves that start chartreuse and turn to yellow. Flowers white. Up to 20 inches high.

Golden Tiara

A small to medium-sized hosta with pale green leaves with yellow margins. Purple flowers. Up to 14 inches high.

Ground Master

A small to medium hosta with green leaves with an attractive undulating, white margin. Lavender flowers. Up to about 12 inches high. This is a good ground cover plant.

Hadspen Blue

A small to medium hosta with very good smooth, blue leaves. Lavender flowers. Up to 12 inches high.

Halcyon

A small to medium-sized hosta with excellent blue leaves. Violet flowers. Up to 12 inches high.

Honeybells

A large hosta with undulating light green leaves. The fragrant, white flowers are tinged with mauve. Up to 24 inches. Increases rapidly.

Hydon Sunset

A very small hosta with small gold leaves, fading to green later in the season. Purple flowers. Up to 4 inches high.

Krossa Regal

A very large hosta with undulating pointed leaves of a glaucous blue. Flowers are a lavender pink. Up to 36 inches.

Love Pat

A large hosta with puckered deep blue leaves. Very pale lavender flowers. Up to 30 inches high. A good specimen plant.

Midas Touch

A medium to large hosta with puckered, round leaves that are a bright gold in color. It has pale lavender flowers. Up to 18 inches in height.

Neat Splash

A medium-sized hosta which has dark green leaves, splashed with gold, often more noticeable round the margins. Spreads by stolons. Lavender flowers. Up to 12 inches high.

North Hills

A large hosta with undulating, pointed dark green leaves with white margins. It is vigorously stoloniferous. Lavender flowers. Up to 20 inches. Good ground cover.

Piedmont Gold

A medium-sized hosta with heavily-veined golden leaves. White flowers. Up to 18 inches in height.

Sagae

A very large hosta with large, undulate, glaucous, frosted green leaves with cream margins. They are somewhat twisted. Very pale lavender, almost white, flowers. Up to 40 inches high. Makes a wonderful upright mound and is one of the best hostas. Also known as Hosta fluctuans 'Variegated'.

Shade Fanfare

A medium-sized hosta with light green leaves with cream margins. Lavender flowers. Up to 16 inches high.

Snow Flakes

A small hosta with narrow green leaves. The flowers are pure white, hence its name. Up to 8 inches high.

Snowden

A very large, spreading hosta with glaucous blue leaves. White flowers. Up to 34 inches high. Excellent specimen plant.

Sum and Substance

A very large hosta with chartreuse green leaves, almost gold in full sun. Lavender flowers. Up to 30 inches high. A very impressive hosta.

Sun Power

A large hosta with twisted leaves of a chartreuse to gold color. Lilac flowers. Up to 30 inches in height.

Wide Brim

A medium-sized hosta with bluish-green leaves with irregular cream margins. Pale lavender flowers. Up to 18 inches high.

Zounds

A large hosta with puckered, golden leaves. Pale lavender flowers. Up to 22 inches high.