Originated
by
Dr. Kevin Vaughn of Massachusetts and registered by
Paul Aden of
Garden of Aden in New York
in 1986, this fast growing cultivar
was registered as a hybrid of H. 'Fragrant
Bouquet' × an unnamed seedling (See Journal article below). It was honored with the 1996 American Hosta Growers Association "Hosta of the Year" aware. A large size (22 inches high
by 50 inches wide) plant, it has slightly shiny,
wavy and smooth textured leaves. The flowers are pale lavender,
fragrant, funnel shaped and bloom in August but produces few viable
seeds.
According to
The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), this cultivar "...has long been one of the top
hostas for landscaping purposes...fast growth rate."
The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by
Diana
Grenfell (2009) states: "Leaves are much narrower in juvenile plants.
Increases rapidly and soon reaches maturity. Superb in containers, especially
when sited near the house so that its fragrant flowers, which can last until the
frosts in cooler climates."
This is another of the plants associated with Paul Aden that has
controversy attached. An article in
The
Hosta Journal, (2016 Vol. 47 No 1),
states "Aden's 1986 registration stated that 'So Sweet' is a hybrid between
'Fragrant Bouquet' and an unnamed seedling of Aden's. This is not correct." Dr.
Vaughn who actually originated this plant over 30 years ago went on to speculate
that "...the pod parent is the medio-variegated sibling to 'Summer
Fragrance'. The pollen parent is either another sibling to 'Summer
Fragrance' or a seedling from 'Snow Flakes'
× H. plantaginea. I made
both of those crosses."
An article by Warren I. Pollock in
The
Hosta Journal (2014 Vol. 45 No. 1) states that, "The
American Hosta Society
Cultivar Origination Commission…concluded that
Kevin C. Vaughn
and the late Florence Shaw should be credited for some of Aden’s
registrations…Eight of
Paul Aden ’s
crème de la crème registrations are credited
to Kevin Vaughn as originator and 16 to Florence Shaw…Among them are H. ‘Fragrant Bouquet’ (K. Vaughn – 1982), ‘So Sweet’ (K. Vaughn –1986), ‘Zounds’
(F. Shaw – 1978), ‘Love Pat’ (F. Shaw – 1978), ‘Sum
and Substance’ (F. Shaw –
1980) and ‘Blue
Angel’ (F. Shaw – 1986)."
In an article in
The
Hosta Journal (2016 Vol. 47 No 2), the author
described this plant's flowers as having a "Strong" fragrance
compared to other hostas.
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