H. ‘Dragon's Blood’

Overview

'Dragon's Blood' (1998) is a cross of H. longipes as pod parent and H. pycnophylla as pollen parent, originated by H. Sugita & P. Ruh. The registry records a medium green leaf with heavy ripples at the margin, slightly shiny on top, with a glaucous bloom underneath and a cordate base. No red coloring is recorded.

In the Garden

It is registered at 30 in (76.2 cm) across and 18 in (45.7 cm) tall, mound-like, with a moderate growth rate. Leaves are 8 in (20.3 cm) long and 6.25 in (15.9 cm) wide with 9 vein pairs. The scape field reads "32 to 0in (81.3 to 0.0cm)", so only the 32 in (81.3 cm) figure is usable; scape color is not given.

How it compares

'Doctor Fu Manchu' (1998) is a sibling cross: the same pod and pollen parents, the same originators, and the same registered size of 30 in (76.2 cm) by 18 in (45.7 cm), mound-like with a moderate growth rate. Its leaf is dark green and narrower, 8.5 in (21.6 cm) by 3.75 in (9.5 cm) with 7 vein pairs, also with heavy ripples at the margin, but with a rounded base and a dull rather than glaucous underside. Choose 'Doctor Fu Manchu' for a narrow, dark leaf; 'Dragon's Blood' has the broader, heart-based one.

'Lucille' (2001), in the same show class, shares the 30 in (76.2 cm) by 18 in (45.7 cm) registration size but is upright, with a dark green leaf, very shiny on both sides, of 9 in (22.9 cm) by 5 in (12.7 cm), 9 prominent vein pairs and slightly rippled margins. Its entry notes a "piecrust margin and heavy substance". Dark green scapes are recorded at 36 to 46 in (91.4 to 116.8 cm).

Flowers and other notes

Flower details are not part of the entry, and its notable characteristics and comments fields are empty. For light, water and slugs, see the general hosta care guide.

Sources: AHS Registry records for 'Dragon's Blood' (#1510), 'Doctor Fu Manchu' (#1467), 'Lucille' (#3551), hostaregistrar.org.