We have searched our copies of The Hosta Journal for anything that might relate to any of the over 13,300 hosta names in our database. We extracted parts of articles that dealt with historical matters, opinions of well-known hostaphiles, recommendations (positive or negative), lookalike cultivars and the seemingly never ending problem with confusing names.

Where appropriate, we placed a copy of the material on the individual cultivar or species page. We also put the information and quotations on a group of topic pages listed below:

  1. Blue Hostas
  2. 'Blue Mouse Ears'
  3. Early Hosta Cultivars
  4. Fall Bloomers
  5. Flowers
  6. Green Hostas
  7. Halcyon Group
  8. Hosta History
  9. Hybridizing
  1. Japanese Words
  2. Large Hostas
  3. Look-a-Like Hostas
  4. Hosta Names
  5. Non-US Hostas
  6. Photo Essays
  7. Plant Traits
  8. Hosta Series
  9. Small Hostas
  1. Hosta Species
  2. Top Rated Hostas
  3. Unstable Variegation
  4. White Margin Hostas
  5. White Medial Hostas
  6. Yellow Hostas
  7. Yellow Margin Hostas
  8. Yellow Medial Hostas

1) In an article in The Hosta Journal (2001 Vol. 32 No. 1), Tom Micheletti, former President of The American Hosta Society took on the task of listing the "Classic Hosta Cultivars" through the year 2003. He decided to divide these into categories including: Green, Blue, Yellow (Gold, White-Margined, Yellow-Margined, White Medio-Variegated and Yellow Medio-Variegated.

Admittedly, some of these white-centered beauties are difficult to get established and grown to a respectable size, but experimentation with varying light condition can locate a spot in the garden where these plants will flourish.
Classic White Medio-Margined Hostas
  1. H. 'Calypso' is a small plant which nicely displays pointed leaves with white centers.
  2. H. 'Cherry Berry' has the crowning glory of pale lavender flowers atop cherry red stems.
  3. H. 'Fortunei Albopicta' has leaves that may turn green as summer progresses. This is a staple in many older landscapes.
  4. H. 'Geisha' is a plant that is easily recognized in the garden.
  5. H. 'Great Expectations', some will say, is inappropriately named. The expectations are a disappointment because it is difficult to grow well. Just experience the beauty of a well-grown specimen as seen in many gardens, and it will become apparent that the expectations of this beauty are worth experimenting with.
  1. H. 'Masquerade' is a diminutive cultivar that grows well.
  2. H. 'Night before Christmas' is an improvement from its parent H. 'White Christmas' from which it sported. Both cultivars are outstanding when grown well.
  3. H. 'Sea Thunder' is another of Mildred Seaver's beautiful and distinctive plants.
  4. H. 'Spilt Milk', while not exactly white-centered, has the white streaking that is unequaled in any other hosta.
  5. H. 'Undulata Univittata', if introduced today would be all the rage, with curled leaves and white centers. Just because Grandma grew it, doesn't mean it is not a standout.
  6. H. 'Whirlwind' can be best described by the word "outstanding!"

This is quite an extensive list of distinctive cultivars. Many have been popular either with gardeners, landscapers and collectors for over 25 years...Their timeless beauty is why they are still kicking after all these years.

2) An article by Warren I. Pollock in The Hosta Journal (2008 Vol. 39 No. 2) states that, "Paul Aden in The Hosta Book mentioned that medio-variegated hostas develop plain-leaved forms more readily than margin-variegated hostas. My observations are that 'Revolution' develops all-green leaves more readily than 'Independence' does. Apparently this is to be expected because 'Revolution' has more white tissue than 'Independence' -- and it's white tissue that wants to "re-green"."

3) An article by Warren I. Pollock in The Hosta Journal (2008 Vol. 39 No. 2) states that, "H. 'Paul Revere'...also medio-variegated, is like 'Loyalist', or perhaps even identical to it. Also found in tissue-culturing 'Patriot', 'Paul Revere' has leaves with a dark green margin and wide white center. I'm now seeing all-green leaves on a few old 'Paul Revere' clumps. Do hostas with these green tetraploid leaves have a name? Mark Zilis calls them H. 'Midnight Ride'..."

4) An article discussing large size hostas by Walter Cullerton in The Hosta Journal (2010 Vol. 41 No. 1) states that, "I've decided to take a look at my favorites, those Big Hostas that excited me along my journey...one in each major category...yellow, edged variegated, medio-variegated, blue and, yes, green. Remember, I like green."

5) An article discussing large size hostas by Walter Cullerton in The Hosta Journal (2010 Vol. 41 No. 1) states that, "I've decided to take a look at my favorites, those Big Hostas that excited me along my journey...one in each major category...yellow, edged variegated, medio-variegated, blue and, yes, green. Remember, I like green."

* Favorite medio-variegated hybrids include 'Queen of Islip', 'Super Nova', 'Saybrook Surprise', 'Paul's Glory' and 'Inniswood'.

6) A Photo Essay article by Steve Chamberlain in The Hosta Journal (2010 Vol. 41 No. 1) makes comments about H. 'Darwin's Standard', "This is an unregistered sport of 'Gold Standard' from Darwin Plants in Hillegom, the Netherlands. Although it has the same basic medio-variegated leaf pattern as its parent, the clump shape, leaf substance and ultimate appearance of the mature clump are quite different."

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