United States Patent: PP23587 (2013)
Abstract: A new and unique Hosta plant named
‘American Hero’ characterized by compact plant habit and
stiff, upright, heavily-substanced, twisted, variegated
leaves with dark green margins and creamy centers. The
leaf veins have an irregular and unusual fusing, a
puckering or corrugation especially between the leaf
margin and center and the creamy centers have an
irregular green flecking. Flowering lasts for about 3 to
4 weeks beginning in mid-July with numerous
light-lavender upward-facing flowers on cream-colored
scapes.
The patent application lists the following as
similar cultivars: "...'Americana' (not patented), 'Loyalist' (not patented), 'Revolution' (not patented), 'Paul Revere' (not
patented), 'Fire and Ice' (not patented) and 'Pathfinder (not patented). 'Loyalist’, 'Fire and Ice' and 'Paul Revere' all appear to be identical to each
other but are independently derived sports all from 'Patriot' with flat leaves having a dark-green margin
and white center having a small number of green speckles
in the center. 'Revolution’, 'Americana' and 'American
Hero' are directly or indirectly sports (mutations) of 'Patriot' (not patented). All seven of the Hosta
cultivars listed above have similar leaf variegation
patterns with the green margins and whitish centers. Hosta ‘American
Hero' has a highly-contrasting,
wide, deep-green leaf margins with a bright white leaf
centers which have a unique speckling of green flecks of
irregular lengths and widths. The new plant also has
unique veining that produces an extreme twisting of the
leaf blades."
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