H. ‘Game Boy’
Hosta ‘Game Boy’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Section class | III-7 (Medium) |
Last checked against the AHS registry:
Overview
'Game Boy' is a sport of 'Liberty' registered in 2011 by G. Heemskerk of the Netherlands, who is listed as originator, namer, introducer and registrant. Its leaf breaks from the parent pattern: green with cream and white flaming and streaking in the center, very shiny on top, elliptic with a tapered base, 7.9 in (20.1 cm) by 3.9 in (9.9 cm).
In the Garden
The original sport was three years old when registered, measured as an upright plant 31.5 in (80.0 cm) across and 19.7 in (50.0 cm) high with a moderate growth rate. The registrant called it sun resistant and noted that the center shows more in summer. Pale lavender tubular flowers appear from early July to early August on green scapes of 27.6 in, and the plant does not set seed.
How it compares
'Liberty', the parent, is registered larger and looks different: medium blue green with a golden yellow margin 2.5 in wide, registered at 39.4 in both across and high. It was AHS Hosta of the Year in 2012, and the booklet gives 26 in high by 63 in wide. Choose 'Liberty' for a bold margined specimen and 'Game Boy' for a narrower, glossier leaf with a lit center.
'Sagae' is the grandparent, since 'Liberty' is its sport. It was Hosta of the Year in 2000, and its record describes dull yellow green leaves with a bright pale yellow margin on a plant registered at 26 in across.
'So Nice' is a streaked plant in the same show class with lance-shaped, pale yellow leaves streaked medium green, 27 in across and 14 in high. It is registered as mound-like, with near-white flowers from mid to late July. Pick it if pale yellow streaking matters more than gloss: its leaf is dull on both sides, where 'Game Boy' is very shiny on top.
Flowers and other notes
The plant does not set seed, and the record does not say whether the flame pattern holds in divisions. Our hosta care guide covers general growing.
Sources: AHS Registry records for 'Game Boy' (#1891), 'Liberty' (#3374), 'Sagae' (#4906) and 'So Nice' (#5252), hostaregistrar.org; AHS Hosta of the Year booklet, 3rd edition.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 19.7 in (50 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 31.5 in (80 cm) |
| Leaf length | 7.9 in (20.1 cm) |
| Leaf width | 3.9 in (9.9 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 9 |
| Leaf | green with cream and white flaming and streaking flat margins; very shiny on top; slightly shiny underneath; moderately flat |
| Flower scape height | 27.6 in (70.1 cm) |
| Seasonal colour change | center shows more in summer |
| Notable characteristics | sun resistant, unique centered |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Sport parent: Sport of H. 'Liberty' — H. ‘Liberty’
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (III-7, medium size):
- H. ‘So Nice’ (2015)
- H. ‘Seventh Heaven’ (1994)
- H. ‘Academy Fickle Fellow’ (2011)
- H. ‘Cemetery Road’ (2011)
- H. ‘Cosmic Passion’ (2011)
- H. ‘Cosmic Watercolors’ (2011)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #1891. How we check this data.