A hybrid of H. 'Gold
Regal' × H. ventricosa,
this cultivar was originated by
Dr. Ralph (Herb) Benedict of Michigan and registered on his behalf by
Kevin Walek (Hosta Registrar) in 2009. It forms a large size (20 inches high
by 42 inches wide) mound of heart shaped
foliage that is slightly wavy and slightly corrugated. It bears
bright purple, bell-shaped flowers from mid-July into August and
then sets viable seeds.
According to
The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "...when the purple flowers are in bloom, its
foliage-flower combination is
hard to beat.'
The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by
Diana
Grenfell (2009) states: "A deservedly very popular hosta having a great
color contrast between its yellow leaf and deep purple flower."
The Genus HOSTA by
W. George Schmid (1991), lists
this cultivar as H. 'Heart Ache'.
A Photo Essay article by Steve Chamberlain in
The
Hostta Journal (2010 Vol. 41 No. 1) makes comments about
H. 'Heartache', "Herb Benedict never registered this unusual medium-sized
cultivar. Initially the leaves are light blue, but slowly they become gold as
the season progresses, depending upon the amount of sun exposure."
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