H. ‘Alligator Shoes’

Overview

Registered in 2009 by the American Hosta Society through hybridizer K. Walek, Hosta 'Alligator Shoes' is a medium-sized cultivar resulting from a cross between H. 'Dorothy Benedict' (pod parent) and H. montana (pollen parent). The cultivar is visually distinctive for its heavily corrugated, ovate leaves that display a gray-green base color with dark green streaking and narrow, slightly rippled margins, all overlaid with a glaucous bloom on the upper surface.

In the Garden

'Alligator Shoes' forms a dense, mound-like clump reaching 24 inches (61.0 cm) in height and 52 inches (132.1 cm) in diameter at maturity. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical for blue-green hostas, where the leaf texture and color contrast are most pronounced. The substantial leaf size and deeply corrugated surface make it a strong textural element in woodland borders or shade gardens, pairing well with ferns, astilbes, and other fine-textured perennials.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, particularly in warmer climates, and apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Alligator Shoes' is susceptible to slug and deer damage, so protective measures may be necessary in areas where these pests are prevalent.