The petiole is the stalk that connects the leaf blade to the crown beneath the soil surface. Here, we are looking for any unique characteristics that will help identify the cultivar. In recent years, the most common trait that differentiates petioles is the presence of the color red. This may be in the form of red spots or may be a more solid reddish to purplish pigmentation.

The species Hosta longipes and H. pycnophylla have petioles with red to purple dots on them. As hybridizers continue to emphasize this characteristic, they are hoping to move the red color further up into the leaf blade itself. Who knows, we may have red leafed hostas not too far in the future. Is that good or bad? You decide.

List of Hostas with a) Red Petioles , b) Red Flower Scapes, c) Tall Flower Scapes and d) Branched Flowers Scapes.

There is also a trait called "no apparent petiole". Certain plants such as H. 'Gosan Lettuce' or H. 'Ginsu Knife' have leaf blades that continue more or less uninterrupted down the sides of the petiole. Instead of having a petiole that resembles a celery stalk, these types appear to have "wings" on the leaf stalk.