H. ‘Doctor Bill-Bob’

Overview

Registered in 2009 by K. Walek for the American Hosta Society, *Hosta* 'Doctor Bill-Bob' is a large cultivar of unknown parentage distinguished by its intensely blue-green, broadly ovate leaves with slightly rippled margins and a glaucous bloom on both surfaces. The leaf blades reach 10 inches (25.4 cm) in length and 8 inches (20.3 cm) in width, with 14 to 16 pairs of veins and moderate corrugation.

In the Garden

This cultivar forms an upright to mound-like clump 16 inches (40.6 cm) tall and 20 inches (50.8 cm) in diameter, with a slow growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, as is typical for blue-leaved hostas, where the glaucous bloom that gives the foliage its distinctive color is best preserved. Its large size makes it suitable as a specimen or in mixed shade borders, paired with ferns, heucheras, or other shade-tolerant perennials.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, particularly during dry periods, and apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, it is susceptible to slug and deer damage, requiring protection in areas where these pests are prevalent.