Hosta Descriptions

Hostas come in hundreds of sizes and color combinations.

Nurseries, catalogs and collectors would be hard-pressed to decipher multiple descriptive terms when dealing with the 2,500 different varieties of hosta. To clarify the judging and cataloging of hostas, the American Hosta Society provides a dictionary of standardized descriptions.

Size

There is a hosta for every garden size.

Registered hostas fall into six different size categories, based on height and the average leaf surface area. Dwarf hostas are less than 4 inches tall, miniatures are 4 to 6 inches tall and small hostas are 6 to 10 inches tall. Medium hostas grow up to 18 inches, large hostas up to 28 inches and "giant" hostas grow over 28 inches tall.

Texture

This variety has mildly twisted leaves.

Hosta leaves have various forms and textures that give the perennials their charm. Seersuckering hostas have heavily quilted leaves, resembling seersucker fabric. Undulating leaves have an overall wave to the blade, while piecrust leaves have a rippled effect just along the margin. Twisted leaves rotate around an imaginary midline, and glabrous leaves are smooth. Rugose leaves are thick and relatively stiff.

Color

Green, yellow, white and blue hostas add interest throughout the season.

Color is the most visible descriptive factor when cataloging hostas. Speckled leaves have small, random dots of color against a solid background, while mottled leaves have larger blotches. "Medio-variegated" leaves have a light-colored center, in contrast to margined leaves with a dark center. "Albescent" leaves fade from yellow to white as they mature, and "glaucous" leaves are waxy and blue-tinged.

References

• The American Hosta Society: Hosta Dictionary
• University of Vermont: Perry's Perennial Pages: Hosta
• Ohio State University Extension: Growing Hostas

Resources

• University of Minnesota Extension: Hostas