H. ‘Tuff Howard’

Overview

Registered in 2010 by an unknown breeder, 'Tuff Howard' is a medium-sized hosta distinguished by its dark green, very shiny, cupped leaves with slightly rippled margins. The broadly ovate, corrugated foliage exhibits a cordate base and 10 to 11 vein pairs, with a variegated color pattern that is dark green on the margins and lighter toward the center.

In the Garden

This cultivar reaches a mature spread of 26 inches (66 cm) and a height of 13 inches (33 cm), with an upright, moderate growth habit. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical of most hostas, and is suitable for border plantings, woodland gardens, or as a specimen in shaded beds. The dark, cupped leaves provide textural contrast when paired with finer-textured shade perennials such as ferns or *Heuchera*.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, applying a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Tuff Howard' is susceptible to slug and deer damage; monitor regularly and apply controls as needed in typical hosta-growing zones.