H. ‘Emma’

AI-generated watercolor illustration of Hosta 'Emma' (not a photograph)
AI-generated watercolor illustration by The Hosta Farm — not a photograph of this cultivar. How we use images

Hosta ‘Emma’ is a registered cultivar () .

Year registered1999
Section classIV-4b (Small)

Overview

Registered in 1999, this small hosta cultivar resulted from a cross between a variegated seedling (pod parent) and Hosta 'Sum and Substance' (pollen parent). 'Emma' is visually distinctive for its medium green leaves with white, slightly rippled margins, forming a compact, mound-like habit.

In the Garden

Reaching 9 inches (22.9 cm) in height and 18 inches (45.7 cm) in diameter, 'Emma' is well-suited for the front of borders, rock gardens, or as edging along pathways. It performs best in partial to full shade, where its white margins remain crisp and contrast well with darker green companions such as ferns or Heuchera. Its small size also makes it an excellent candidate for container cultivation.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Emma' is susceptible to slug and deer damage in typical hosta-growing zones.

This summary was generated with AI from the registry record and has not been reviewed yet; the registry data on this page is the reference. How we use AI.

Size and leaf

Clump height9 in (22.9 cm)
Clump width18 in (45.7 cm)
Leaf length5 in (12.7 cm)
Leaf width3.5 in (8.9 cm)
Vein pairs8
Leafmedium green with .38in (1.0cm) wide, white, slightly rippled margins; slightly shiny on top; dull underneath
Flower scape height14–15 in (35.6–38.1 cm)

From the American Hosta Society Registry record.

Parentage

Similar cultivars

Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (IV-4b, small size):

Related guides

Registration data: AHS Registry #1633. How we check this data.