H. ‘Empress Wu’
Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Section class | I-1 (Giant) |
Last checked against the AHS registry:
What it looks like
'Empress Wu' is all about size. The AHS registry records dark green, broadly ovate leaves 28 in long and 25 in wide with 17–18 vein pairs, slightly shiny on top, with a glaucous (powdery) underside and a light glaucous coat on top in spring. The registrant notes that young plants are "quite upright" and that at maturity the center leaves push the outer leaves down "to sweep the ground". Flowers are pale lavender, 3 in long, on green scapes 46–58 in tall, recorded in Indiana from early June to early July.
Registered size
| Source | Height | Width | Leaf (L × W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHS Registry record (2008) | 50 in (127 cm) | 108 in (274 cm) | 28 × 25 in (71 × 64 cm) |
| AHS Hosta of the Year booklet | not listed | not listed | — |
The figures come from the original seedling at 6 years old in Lowell, Indiana, with a fast growth rate. That is one plant in one garden; we found no second AHS measurement.
Where it fits
The registry gives 108 in (9 ft) across for the measured clump and calls the mature plant mound-like, with outer leaves pushed down to the ground. That is a registration figure, not a promised garden size.
How it compares
- 'Sum and Substance' is chartreuse gold instead of dark green, with an 18 × 15 in leaf on a clump registered at 36 × 60 in. Pick it if a chartreuse gold leaf matters more than leaf size; 'Empress Wu' has the far larger, dark green leaf.
- 'Krossa Regal' is upright and blue-gray, registered at 36 × 36 in, a third of the registered width, with 15 × 8 in leaves.
- 'Big John' is both parents: 'Empress Wu' came from 'Big John' × 'Big John'. It is also dark green, with 18 × 15 in leaves on a clump registered at 26 × 50 in.
- 'Green Dragonet' nearly matches the registered spread (47 × 106 in) but is registered as upright with a slow growth rate, with narrower 19 × 11 in dark green leaves that are very shiny on both sides and scapes of 67–92 in. Pick it if glossy leaves and tall scapes matter more than leaf width; 'Empress Wu' has the broader 28 × 25 in leaf.
Parentage and awards
Pod and pollen parent 'Big John' (registry). Originated, named, introduced and registered by B. and V. Skaggs. Plant patent PP20,774 and breeders' rights PBR4240 CA, PBR32902 QZ. The registry notes it is part of the Proven Winners Shadowland collection.
- Listed in the AHS Popularity Poll in 2014 and 2016.
- No AHGA Hosta of the Year or Benedict garden performance award appears in the AHS sources we checked.
Limits and unknowns
All size data come from a single 6-year-old seedling; how large it gets elsewhere is not documented in AHS sources. Nothing on file speaks to slugs or light, so follow the general hosta care guide. Patented, so propagation for sale is restricted while the patent runs.
Sources
Profile written and checked against the sources above on .
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 50 in (127 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 108 in (274.3 cm) |
| Leaf length | 28 in (71.1 cm) |
| Leaf width | 25 in (63.5 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 18 |
| Leaf | dark green flat margins; slightly shiny on top; glaucous bloom underneath; moderately flat |
| Flower scape height | 46–58 in (116.8–147.3 cm) |
| Seasonal colour change | slightly glaucous coat on top in spring |
| Notable characteristics | Huge size, less mature plants quite upright, upon maturity center leaves push outer leaves to sweep the ground. |
| Plant patent | PP20,774, PBR4240 CA, PBR32902 QZ |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
Registered cultivars that list Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ as a parent:
- H. ‘Blue Moonlight Cup’ (seedling (pollen parent))
- H. ‘Blue Wu’ (seedling (pollen parent))
- H. ‘Kingsize’ (sport)
- H. ‘Princess WuWu’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Royal Empress’ (sport)
- H. ‘Valley's Big Freeze’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Valley's Magnum’ (seedling (pod parent))
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (I-1, giant size):
- H. ‘Armani’ (2015)
- H. ‘Green Dragonet’ (1999)
- H. ‘King James’ (1992)
- H. ‘Dragon's Eye’ (2008)
- H. ‘Gullivar’ (2008)
- H. ‘Uncle Albert’ (2008)
Related guides
Looking for ‘Empress Wu’ on Amazon
Third-party sellers list this cultivar on Amazon. We have not bought these plants and cannot confirm that what arrives is true to name, so compare the listing photos with the description on this page and check the seller, plant size (bare root, quart or gallon) and shipping season before buying.
Search Amazon for ‘Empress Wu’ · What to expect from hostas sold on Amazon
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Registration data: AHS Registry #1637. How we check this data.