This hybrid of
H. kikutii
x H. rupifraga is from
Dr. Ralph (Herb) Benedict of Michigan but was registered on his behalf by
Kevin Walek (Hosta Registrar) in 2009. The small size (10 inches high by 33 inches wide) plant has green foliage. The
leaves are ovate, slightly corrugated and dull on top with thick substance.
Pale purple (pinkish) flowers bloom in dense clusters in August.
Nomenclature changes recommended in the
1991 book The
Genus Hosta by
W. George Schmid and accepted by The American Hosta Society would update names as follows:
H. tardiflora is now H.
'Tardiflora'.
An article about Fall Bloomers by
Herb Benedict and
Jim Wilkins in
The
Hosta Journal (1991 Vol. 22 No. 1) includes their
observations about using fall blooming hostas in hybridizing programs:
1) H. tardiflora × self |
Tends to flower 2 weeks earlier. 90% of
the progeny have the flowers secund (flowers all on one side of the
bloom stalk) and in 10% they are evenly arranged around the central
axis of the raceme (nonsecund). |
2) H. rupifraga × H. tardiflora |
Beautiful very tough plant with a
taller bloom stalk. Blooms 2 weeks earlier. |
3) H. 'Maruba Iwa' × H. tardiflora |
Taller bloom stalk. Blooms 2 weeks
earlier. 30% of progeny have nonsecunded flowers. |
4) H. gracillima × H. tardiflora |
Very nice small plant, with leaves
intermediate between the two. Beautiful flowers. |
5) H. rupifraga ×
H. kikutii |
The best of this cross is called 'Roys
Pink'. It is a perfect intermediate. The leaf is long, heart shaped
and very thick. The flowers are pony tail in type, a light pinkish
color and spent flowers drop off cleanly. |
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