We have searched our copies of The Hosta Journal for anything that might relate to any of the over 13,300 hosta names in our database. We extracted parts of articles that dealt with historical matters, opinions of well-known hostaphiles, recommendations (positive or negative), lookalike cultivars and the seemingly never ending problem with confusing names.

Where appropriate, we placed a copy of the material on the individual cultivar or species page. We also put the information and quotations on a group of topic pages listed below:

  1. Blue Hostas
  2. 'Blue Mouse Ears'
  3. Early Hosta Cultivars
  4. Fall Bloomers
  5. Flowers
  6. Green Hostas
  7. Halcyon Group
  8. Hosta History
  9. Hybridizing
  1. Japanese Words
  2. Large Hostas
  3. Look-a-Like Hostas
  4. Hosta Names
  5. Non-US Hostas
  6. Photo Essays
  7. Plant Traits
  8. Hosta Series
  9. Small Hostas
  1. Hosta Species
  2. Top Rated Hostas
  3. Unstable Variegation
  4. White Margin Hostas
  5. White Medial Hostas
  6. Yellow Hostas
  7. Yellow Margin Hostas
  8. Yellow Medial Hostas

1) An article about H. 'Haku-chu-han' by Warren I. Pollock in The Hosta Journal (1985 Vol. 16) states that, "This Japanese name translates to "Half of leaf white in the center."..."

2) An article about H. 'Herifu' by Warren I. Pollock in The Hosta Journal (1985 Vol. 16) states that, "The Japanese name could mean "spotted border." The name probably refers to this small hosta's characteristic of not always having all of the leaves with a thin whitish edging, and of frequently having the border becoming less discernable as the growing season advances."

3) An article about H. tokudama by Warren I. Pollock in The Hosta Journal (1985 Vol. 16) states that, "A possible translation is "advantageously round," in reference to the leaf shape."

Note: 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. tokudama is now H. 'Tokudama'

4) An article about H. tokudama 'Aureonebulosa'  by Warren I. Pollock in The Hosta Journal (1985 Vol. 16) states that, "...means "clouded with gold."...The Japanese name is "Akebono-Tokudama"...Akebona means "dawn"..."

Note: 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. tokudama 'Aureonebulosa' is now H. 'Tokudama Aureonebulosa'.

5) An article about H. tokudama 'Flavocircinalis' by Warren I. Pollock in The Hosta Journal (1985 Vol. 16) states that, "...means "coiled with yellow."..."

Note: 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. tokudama 'Flavocircinalis' is now H. 'Tokudama Flavocircinalis'.

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