Florence
Shaw of Massachusetts,
the originator of the "Birchwood" group of cultivars, registered this
plant in 1986. It has yellow (lutescent) leaves that are cordate
and flat in shape.
This fast growing, medium size (17 inches high by 43 inches
wide) plant with foliage that starts the season
chartreuse but changes to gold in color later.
It bears lavender, bell-shaped flowers are borne on 38
inch scapes in July. The cultivar is probably a hybrid of
the species,
H. nakaiana.
According to
The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "This cultivar ranks as the most famous of the 'Birchwoods"
and is the first of which I became aware.
'Birchwood Parky's Gold'
produces a good show of lavender flowers over a dense, symmetrical
mound of gold, heart shaped foliage...it has been known by an
amazing number of other names, including 'Golden Nakaiana', H. nakaiana 'Golden', Parkman Shaw', 'Parkman Shaw
391', 'Parky', 'Parky's Birchwood Gold' and 'Parky's Gold'."
The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by
Diana
Grenfell (2009) states: "A classic hosta, still one of the best for
lighting up woodland areas. Grow with H. 'Blue
Cadet' or H. 'Pearl
Lake'."
Florence's husband's name was Parkman Shaw. That is the
origin of the term "Parky" in some of the names of her hostas.
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