H. ‘Espresso’
Hosta ‘Espresso’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Section class | III-1 (Medium) |
Overview
Registered in 2009, *Hosta* 'Espresso' is a medium-sized hybrid between *Hosta* 'Aqua Velva' and *Hosta rupifraga*. This cultivar is visually distinctive for its blue-green foliage that carries a dull, glaucous bloom on the leaf undersides, combined with dark green, flat leaf margins and an ovate, rounded leaf base.
In the Garden
*Hosta* 'Espresso' forms a moderate-growing, mound-like clump reaching 17 inches (43.2 cm) in height and 35 inches (88.9 cm) in diameter. It performs best in partial to full shade, as is typical for hostas, and its medium size makes it suitable for mid-border positions or as a specimen in woodland gardens. Companion plants that contrast with its blue-green leaves, such as golden-leaved *Hakonechloa* or white-flowered *Astilbe*, work well in combination.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, particularly in dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Espresso' may be damaged by slugs and deer in garden settings.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 17 in (43.2 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 35 in (88.9 cm) |
| Leaf length | 9.5 in (24.1 cm) |
| Leaf width | 6 in (15.2 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 10 |
| Leaf | dark green flat margins; dull on top; glaucous bloom underneath; flat |
| Flower scape height | 24 in (61.0 cm) |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Pod parent: H. 'Aqua Velva' — H. ‘Aqua Velva’
- Pollen parent: H. rupifraga
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (III-1, medium size):
- H. ‘Akane’ (2010)
- H. ‘Free Jazz’ (2011)
- H. ‘Cherry Flip’ (2012)
- H. ‘Floramora’ (2012)
- H. ‘Bellevue’ (2013)
- H. ‘Lucille’ (2001)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #1662