H. ‘Birdbeak’
Hosta ‘Birdbeak’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Section class | II-3 (Large) |
Overview
Registered in 2009, Hosta 'Birdbeak' is a large cultivar notable for its blue-green leaves with gold margins and distinctive twisted leaf tips. The plant produces flower buds shaped like a bird's beak, from which its name derives, and exhibits prominent veining on ovate leaves with a glaucous bloom on both surfaces.
In the Garden
'Birdbeak' forms a mound-shaped clump reaching 44 inches (111.8 cm) in diameter and 17 inches (43.2 cm) in height, with a fast growth rate. Its large size makes it suitable as a specimen or in mixed borders, where its blue-green foliage with yellow, slightly rippled margins provides contrast against darker green or chartreuse companions. The plant performs best in partial to full shade, typical for hostas, and is not suited to container cultivation due to its mature dimensions.
Care Notes
Water regularly to maintain consistent soil moisture, particularly during dry periods. Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as growth emerges. While slug and deer resistance is not documented for this cultivar, standard protective measures are advisable in gardens where these pests are prevalent.
This summary was generated with AI from the registry record and has not been reviewed yet; the registry data on this page is the reference. How we use AI.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 17 in (43.2 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 44 in (111.8 cm) |
| Leaf length | 11 in (27.9 cm) |
| Leaf width | 6 in (15.2 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 11 |
| Leaf | yellow slightly rippled margins; glaucous bloom on top; glaucous bloom underneath; moderately wavy |
| Flower scape height | 20–24 in (50.8–61.0 cm) |
| Seasonal colour change | deep golden yellow as summer progresses |
| Notable characteristics | twisted leaf tips, prominent veining, flower buds in the shape of a bird's beak. |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Pod parent: H. 'Millennium' x white-backed form of H. longipes var. latifolia — H. ‘Millennium’
- Pollen parent: H. 'King Tut' — H. ‘King Tut’
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (II-3, large size):
- H. ‘Gold Wing’ (2014)
- H. ‘Rosedale Bright and Sassy’ (1999)
- H. ‘Bold and Brassy’ (2009)
- H. ‘Buster’ (2009)
- H. ‘Cerveza’ (2009)
- H. ‘Christmas Gold’ (2009)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #526. How we check this data.