H. ‘Applause’

Overview

'Applause' is a sport of 'Edge of Night', registered in 2006. H. Hansen of Waseca, Minnesota, is listed as originator and registrant and T. Avent as namer and introducer. The leaf is dark green with a creamy white margin 0.5 to 0.75 in (1.3 to 1.9 cm) wide, broadly ovate, moderately cupped and dull on top with glaucous bloom beneath. The registrant's notable feature is that combination of very dark leaves, cupping and a white edge.

In the Garden

The registration describes a large plant: 55 in (139.7 cm) across and 27 in (68.6 cm) high, upright, with a fast registered growth rate, measured on the original sport at ten years old. The leaves themselves are modest, 6.5 in by 5 in. Pale lavender tubular flowers stand on green scapes of 18 to 22 in, and the plant sets seed of unknown viability.

How it compares

'Edge of Night', the parent, was registered in 1988 from 'Green Gold' crossed with 'Halcyon'. Its leaf is blue green, larger at 9 in by 8.5 in, with no margin, on a mound 48 in across and 24 in high. 'Applause' trades the blue for darker green and adds the white edge.

'Patriot' shares the class and the dark-green-and-white layout, with a wider 1 in margin on a glossy leaf of 7 by 5 in; it was registered at 30 in across. Pick 'Patriot' if the wider margin and glossy leaf matter more than leaf shape; 'Applause' has cupped leaves, an upright habit and a registered width of 55 in against 30 in.

'Sugar and Cream' is another class member registered at a similar 50 in across, but its leaf is narrower, 9 in by 4.5 in, and its scapes are registered at 43 in against 18 to 22 in for 'Applause'.

Flowers and other notes

Bloom in Waseca, Minnesota, ran from June 30 to July 17. Siting and upkeep are ordinary hosta care, covered in our care guide.

Sources: AHS Registry records for 'Applause' (#301), 'Edge of Night' (#1561), 'Patriot' (#4245) and 'Sugar and Cream' (#5446), hostaregistrar.org.