The plant above is labeled
incorrectly as 'Koryama'. This
non-registered cultivar from
Japan is a form of the species,
H. sieboldii. This medium
size hosta grows to about 12 inches high and spreads to about 28
inches in width with wavy leaves that are curved downward. It
bears purple flowers in August.
Note: There seems to be a lot of confusion
over this fine hosta as evidenced by the following comments from Mark Zilis. It
appears that he is saying that H. 'Opipara' is actually H. 'Bill Brincka' but it
could also be H. 'Koriyama' which could be H. 'Opipara Koriyama' which is the
same as H. 'Mishima Fukurin Koba'...is that clear?
RE: H. 'Opipara' - Mark Zilis (2009) says, "...'Opipara' (or 'Bill Brincka') should be in every hosta
collection...In the 1980s, however, I would not have given this
plant such a glowing recommendation. Nearly every plant of 'Opipara'...in
the United States was infected with a virus (probably
Hosta Virus X). Fortunately,
Bill Brincka...obtained
a clean selection of this plant, which was marketed under his
name..."
RE: H. 'Koryama' - According to
The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "When I first encountered this
plant in the 1980s, it was purported to be a dwarf-size
Hosta opipara, listed as
Hosta opipara 'Koriyama'. A
lot has changed since that time. Hosta opipara is now considered
a cultivar (H. 'Opipara') and 'Koriyama' is the proper spelling
for the plant (named for a mountain in northeastern Japan). More
importantly, 'Koriyama' appears to be the same as 'Mishima
Fukurin Koba', a form of Hosta sieboldii!"
RE: H. 'Bill Brincka' - Mark Zilis (2009) states, "...represents a
virus -free
version of 'Opipara'. Most 'Opipara' specimens in the U.S. were
infected with a virus (probably
Hosta Virus X) before
Bill Brincka imported this clean plant from
Japan. By whatever name,
the plant is simply magnificent."
Mikiko Lockwood in an article on The Hosta Library titled,
A Little About Japanese Hosta Terms defines the term koba as small leaf,
'Koba Gibōshi' or
H. sieboldii, the term fukurin as margined or edged. and the term yama as mountain.
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