This cultivar of unidentified parentage was registered by
Peter Ruh of Ohio in 1999 on
behalf of the originator,
Gwen Black
of England. It is a medium size (18 inches high by 36
inches wide) hosta with
Tardiana-type foliage which is slightly
blue-green in the spring but becomes more chartreuse in
color later. The leaves are cupped lengthwise and have a
thin bloom on the bottom. Very pale lavender flowers
bloom from late June into July.
The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by
Diana
Grenfell (2009) states in its Hosta Hybrids for Connoisseurs chapter: "Even
in cooler climates the leaf turns green early in the
season, and in moderate to hot climates, it assumes
chartreuse tints."
An article by Warren I. Pollock in
The
Hosta Journal (1997 Vol. 28 No. 1) states that, "There
already is a blue hosta with the leaf curling character of 'Stetson'. It is a
seedling of
H. 'Sieboldiana' (not H. 'Elegans'
) with pollen parent
unknown. The leaf blades are canoe shaped, even more curled on the sides than
'Stetson'. Its very fitting name is 'Blue Canoe'...an exciting new introduction
of Gwen Black who gardens in...England."
In
The
Hosta Journal (2003 Vol. 34 No. 1) Pollock states that, "In my
view, boat-shaped or "keeled" is a better descriptor than folded. The leaf blade
curves upward from the midrib similar to how a canoe looks...H. 'Stetson', 'Cowrie',
'Banana Boat', and 'Blue Canoe' are some other hostas with this folded or keeled
leaf shape."
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