A cultivar of
unidentified parentage, this hosta is from
an unidentified originator in
Japan and was registered by
Kevin Walek (Hosta Registrar) in 2009
and
re-registered
with new data in
2018. It forms a
miniature size (2˝ inches high by 5 inches wide)
mound of ovate, wavy, foliage with smooth texture and better
than average substance. Purple, striped flowers bloom in August.
Seed set was unknown at the time of registration.
According to
The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "Whenever I'm asked to identify the smallest hosta, 'Uzu-no-mai' always comes to
mind...It would probably be more widely grown by now had it not proven difficult
to maintain and overwinter.
The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by
Diana
Grenfell (2009) states in its Miniature Hostas chapter: "...has no
petioles and is virtually impossible to keep alive for more than a year or two."
Mikiko Lockwood in an article on The Hosta Library titled,
A Little About Japanese Hosta Terms defines the term fukurin as margined or edged.
An article about H. 'Uzo-no-Mai' by W. George Schmid in
The
Hosta Journal (2002 Vol. 33 No. 2) states that, "One
tiny hosta has caused more consternation and disappointment among gardeners than
any other: H. 'Uzo-no-Mai'...Liberally translated, the Japanese name means
"dancing eddy." When one views the plant from the top, with some imagination,
the leaves look like a whirlpool.
Mark Zilis gives the sad results...writing "I
have seen it die in both gardens and containers."
W. George Schmid in
The
Hosta Journal (2009 Vol. 40 No. 2) states that, "In 2007,
I published a survival strategy for one of the most challenging, yet
fascinating and unique hostas under the sun: Hosta 'Uzu-no-Mai'...This cute
little cultivar requires very exacting cultural requirements to remain a bundle
of joy in a pot."
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