This is a medial variegated sport of
H. 'Outrageous' that was registered by
Dr. Ralph (Herb) and Dorothy Benedict of Michigan in 1995. It forms a medium size (14 inches tall) mound with slightly
wavy and corrugated leaves of thick substance. The pale lavender
flowers bloom from late July into August but it is sterile and
does not set seeds. According to
The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "Though registered as forming a
mound 28" high...is actually much less. I've seen it growing in
four different collections and the largest specimen only
achieved my listed
size."
The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by
Diana
Grenfell (2009) states in its Hosta Hybrids for Connoisseurs chapter: "Among
the most beautiful of the centrally variegated hostas and, although a fairly
rapid increaser, is still rare and seen only in the garden of serious
collectors."
Insook
is a feminine Korean name.
An article about H. 'My Child Insook' by Warren I. Pollock in
The
Hosta Journal (2004 Vol. 35 No.3) says, "The all-time
high for a hosta was at the 1998
National
Convention of The
American Hosta Society auction in Peoria, Illinois.
Herb Benedict offered his highly regarded 'My Child Insook', announcing it was
very rare and emphasizing it was only in a few of his friends' gardens...H. 'My
Child Insook' sold for a record $4,100.00.".
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