Hosta 'Hirao Splendor'
 

This plant has an incorrect label that says "Hiroa Splender" which should read "Hirao Splendor".

This cultivar has H. kikutii yakusimensis in its background. It was originated by Dr. Shuichi Hirao in Japan and registered on his behalf by Peter Ruh of Ohio in 1997. The plant grows into a medium size hosta about 17 inches in height with a spread around 43 inches. Its medium green foliage is lance shaped, slightly wavy and has smooth texture. Lavender flowers in dense clusters bloom in September. This cultivar is part of the "Hirao Series" of hostas.

According to The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "...formerly known as "Hirao 59"...no doubt the same as or close to H. kikutii yakusimensis, blooming at about the same time and making the same dense mound of long, narrow foliage with deeply impressed vein pairs. Herb Benedict once remarked that this was one of the most beautiful hostas for flower effect."

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. tortifrons is now H. 'Tortifrons' and H. tardiflora is H. 'Tardiflora'.

An article about Fall Bloomers by Herb Benedict and Jim Wilkins in The Hosta Journal (1991 Vol. 22 No. 1) states that, "Here are some of the fall blooming plants we grow...(listed in the order of bloom times in Michigan).

   
1) H. kikutii A medium size plant densely flowering with white blooms. The flowers are equally arranged around the central axis of the raceme so that the bloom scapes resembles a bottle brush or pony tail...We are growing two named varieties, 'Hirao-59' (now H. 'Hirao Splendor') and 'Finlandia'.
2) H. 'Fall Bouquet' Small, green plant, leaves slightly undulated, lavender scape and blooms, floriferous.
3) H. longipes Small green plant, densely flowering with a tall stiff bloom scape. The flowers are lavender and the leaves are green.
4) H. gracillima Funnel-shaped, light lavender flowers. A miniature green plant, with shiny surface.
5) H. 'Iwa Soules' Iwa means rock, and this plant was imported by Marjorie Soules, from Japan. It is a small green plant with lavender flowers.
6) H. tortifrons In the same section (Picnolepis) as H. longipes and H. rupifraga. Distinctive small plant, with twisted green leaves and lavender flowers.
7) H. 'Fused Veins' Small, green leaves often with ¼ inch margin which is a lighter green. The lance shaped leaves are undulated and the veins come together regularly. The flowers are mauve and the scape is sometimes branched.
8) H. rupifraga Small, medium green, with thick, leathery, ovate leaves. Densely flowering with purple flowers. 'Urajiro', 'Grand Slam', 'Maruba Iwa'
9) H. tardiflora   This small hosta is the last to bloom for us. Its leaves are shiny, dark green and lance shaped. The flowers are light lavender and borne in abundance on 12 inch scapes.




   

 

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