  Registered by
Dorothy's husband,
Dr. Ralph (Herb) Benedict of Michigan in 1983, this large size (26 inches high by 60 inches wide) hosta has
blue-green leaves with yellow streaked variegation. The foliage is heavily
corrugated, convexly cupped and has thick substance. Dense
clusters of near white flowers bloom from mid-June into July
followed by viable seeds.
This is
self-pollinated seedling of H. 'Frances
Williams' is very highly prized as a pod parent by a number hosta
hybridizers. Hosta cultivars named for several
renowned hosta people including
'Van Wade', 'Gil Jones', 'Jim
Wilkins', and 'Hideko Gowen'
are the results of crossing with this cultivar as the seed
parent.
 According to
The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "Herb Benedict contributed many great plants to the
world of hostas, but this cultivar may be his best. It is only
fitting that it honors his wonderful wife and hosta
partner. The original specimen of 'Dorothy Benedict' exhibited
only limited variegation, but, over the years, Herb selected
shoots with heavily variegated foliage and continually improved
the plant. Of minor
importance is its good
ornamental value in
the shade garden. 'Dorothy Benedict' is now considered the
premier breeding plant in the world of hostas for its ability to
produce variegated seedlings with thick, H. 'Sieboldiana'-type
substance. Additionally, many 'Dorothy Benedict' seedlings have
become important breeding plants."
 From the
Field Guide to Hostas by Mark Zilis (2014), "In the 1980s, specimens of 'Dorothy Benedict' brought over
$1000 at society auctions." During the 1997
National Convention of
The
American Hosta Society in Indianapolis,
a division of this cultivar sold for $3,000 to hybridizers.
(The Hosta Journal, 2000 Vol. 31, No. 1)
The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by
Diana
Grenfell (2009) states: "Very slow growth rate. Very rare. Prized as a pod
parent in producing seedlings of good substance. Among the most
attractive of its type. Makes a striking specimen in the
garden."
An article about H. 'Dorothy Benedict' by
Herb Benedict in
The
Hosta Journal (1991 Vol. 22 No. 1) states that, "Prior
to 1978, many growers, Donahue,
Aden, and others, failed to get splashed
seedlings after planting thousands of 'Frances Williams' seeds. I thought I
would give it a try. During July, 1978, I selfed (self-pollinated) the blooms...The next year, in
late May, about 200 seedlings came up. A few were gold and all the rest green or
blue-green except one that had a narrow gold stripe in each leaf...It
bloomed for the first time in 1983 at the age of 4 years. It was named for my
best friend, Dorothy Benedict, and registered...During
1990, the six best, 7 year old seedlings were named and three were registered."
| #1. 'Gil Jones' |
A large upright
H. 'Sieboldiana'-type,
with blue-green leaves and a wide cream edge. |
| #2. 'Jim Wilkins' |
A low spreading reverse with a cream
center and with a blue-green border on its leaves. |
| #3 'Hideko Gowen' |
A tall, upright reverse with a maple
leaf cream center, a wide green edge and a thick cupped round leaf. |
| #4 'Tom Boy' |
A small, slow-growing miniature
H. 'Sieboldiana' with a chartreuse edged, cupped, round green leaf. |
| #5 'Ruby
Benedict' |
A low, spreading, very gold leaf with a
green edge, and a very puckered, round leaf. |
| #6 'Bashful Polly' |
A wavy edged, splashed leaf. |
Another 'Dorothy Benedict' seedling, grown and registered by
Jim Wilkins, is 'Herb Benedict', a splashed, round leaf with blue overtones
and winner of the Savory Shield Award in Jackson (MI), 1988, for the best
new seedling growing in a
National
Convention of The
American Hosta Society tour garden."
An article in
The Hosta Journal (1995 Vol. 26 No. 1) citing Vol. 1, #2, Fall 1993,
Great Lakes Region Newsletter included a list of Hostas Good for The Hybridizer from
Jim Dishon:
 Warren I. Pollock in
The
Hosta Journal (2004 Vol. 35 No.3) says, "It was at the
1997 National
Convention of
The American Hosta Society in Indianapolis,
Herb Benedict brought a piece of 'Dorothy
Benedict' to the auction. Though Herb had registered this cultivar in 1983, it
was still extremely scarce...Jerry Hadrava of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I was told,
was overheard saying he was going to buy this 'Dorothy Benedict' at any cost.
Well, the winning bid was $3,000.00 and it was Hadrava's."
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