H. ‘Clarence Owens’

Overview

Registered in 2001, 'Clarence Owens' is a giant hosta cultivar of unknown parentage, notable for its substantial size and bold blue-green leaves with wide gold margins. The leaves are broadly ovate with cordate bases, measuring 13 inches long and 10 inches wide, with 15 vein pairs and a slightly rippled, dark green margin that is 2.5 inches wide; the upper surface is slightly shiny, while the underside bears a glaucous bloom.

In the Garden

This cultivar forms an upright mound reaching 24 inches in height and 45 inches in diameter, with a moderate growth rate. It is best suited to partial to full shade, where its blue-green foliage and gold margins maintain good contrast; in typical hosta-growing zones, it serves as a bold specimen or anchor plant in mixed shade borders. Its giant size makes it unsuitable for containers but effective when paired with ferns, astilbes, or other shade-tolerant perennials that complement its large leaves.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like many large-leaved hostas, it is susceptible to slug and deer damage, so appropriate deterrents may be necessary.