H. ‘Ebony Towers’

Hosta 'Ebony Towers'
Illustration: The Hosta Farm Editorial Team.

Hosta ‘Ebony Towers’ is a registered cultivar () .

Year registered2005
Section classIII-1 (Medium)

Overview

Registered in 2005, ‘Ebony Towers’ is a medium-sized hosta resulting from a cross of ‘Liberty Bell’ with a hybrid of *H. ‘Urajiro Hachijo’* and *H. pycnophylla*. The cultivar is distinguished by its nearly round, blue-green leaves with heavily rippled, dark green margins and a glaucous bloom on the undersides, combined with a tall, nearly solid black-purple scape that bears burgundy to black pods.

In the Garden

‘Ebony Towers’ forms a mound-like clump 17 inches (43.2 cm) tall and 34 inches (86.4 cm) in diameter, with a fast growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical of most hostas, and its compact habit suits it for the middle of a border or as a specimen in a woodland garden. The dark scapes and foliage provide contrast when paired with lighter-leaved perennials such as ferns or *Heuchera*.

Care Notes

Water regularly to maintain even moisture, especially during dry periods; apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as growth emerges. The thick, glaucous leaves offer moderate resistance to slugs, though deer may browse the foliage in typical hosta-growing zones.

Size and leaf

Clump height17 in (43.2 cm)
Clump width34 in (86.4 cm)
Leaf length7 in (17.8 cm)
Leaf width5.5 in (14 cm)
Vein pairs8
Leafdark green heavily rippled margins; glaucous bloom underneath; moderately twisted, lightly folded at petiole, deeply wavy, lightly corrugated
Flower scape height40–44 in (101.6–111.8 cm)
Notable characteristics8 to 10 undulations along each side of leaf, densely black purple entire length, sturdy 1/4 inch scape with burgundy to black pods

From the American Hosta Society Registry record.

Parentage

  • Pod parent: H. 'Liberty Bell' x (H. 'Urajiro Hachijo' x H. pycnophylla) — H. ‘Liberty Bell’
  • Pollen parent: (H. 'Urajiro Hachijo' x H. pycnophylla)

Similar cultivars

Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (III-1, medium size):

Related guides

Registration data: AHS Registry #1554