Hosta 'Craig's Temptation'
 

Originating in Japan, Mark Zilis (2009), states that the cultivar is "...probably hybrid of H. venusta x H. nakaiana". Peter Ruh of Ohio registered it with The American Hosta Society in 2002.

This hosta grows into a medium size hosta about 11 inches in height and spreads to 32 inches in width. The leaves are slightly wavy and smooth textured. It bears large numbers of medium purple flowers in July.

Zilis goes on to say, "George Schenk and Jack Craig found this plant growing on a tree in a temple garden in Kyoto, Japan in 1968. Evidently, the temptation was too great, and a division of it made it to the U.S."

"Plant was collected in Aichi Prefecture near ancient temple grounds by J. E. Craig (1970) and named by George Schenk. A plant seen under this name in exhibitions looks like H. nakaiana or a hybridized form of it, but is probably not H. 'Craigs Temptation' because according to his own report, Craig did not collect H. nakaiana; he bought it in a flower market.

"In 1969 Craig and his friend Atsuya Hamada, guided by Hirano, made an extensive study of H. hypoleuca growing in the wild in the southern Kiso range of the Central Alps, near the village of Horaji, in Aichi Prefecture. He observed many different forms of this species, which he later wrote about in detail, but he was not able to collect any specimens. This species is, according to Craig, his favorite one and one that is difficult to collect because it is scarce. Although not protected, it grows in inaccessible, vertical rock cliffs and usually out of reach of collectors. Tempted, he later returned and collected a few wild plants, sending them to Roy Davidson. Craig surmises that it was one of the many types of H. hypoleuca which he sent to Davidson that was named H. 'Craigs Temptation' by Schenk."




   

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