H. ‘Ebony Towers’
Hosta ‘Ebony Towers’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Section class | III-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 height | 17 in (43.2 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 34 in (86.4 cm) |
| Leaf length | 7 in (17.8 cm) |
| Leaf width | 5.5 in (14 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 8 |
| Leaf | dark green heavily rippled margins; glaucous bloom underneath; moderately twisted, lightly folded at petiole, deeply wavy, lightly corrugated |
| Flower scape height | 40–44 in (101.6–111.8 cm) |
| Notable characteristics | 8 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):
- H. ‘Lucille’ (2001)
- H. ‘Akane’ (2010)
- H. ‘Morning Angel’ (2000)
- H. ‘Free Jazz’ (2011)
- H. ‘Old Black Magic’ (1999)
- H. ‘Cherry Flip’ (2012)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #1554