H. ‘Gosan Leather Strap’

Overview

Registered in 2009, this small hosta cultivar derives from H. yingeri as seed parent and (H. laevigata × H. longipes f. sparsa) as pollen parent. It is visually distinctive for its very shiny, dark green leaf tops with a whitish sheen beneath, combined with unusually flat, barely visible veins and wavy leaf margins.

In the Garden

Mature plants form a compact mound 6 inches (15.2 cm) tall and 20 inches (50.8 cm) in diameter, with a fast growth rate. The narrow, lanceolate leaves—5 inches (12.7 cm) long and 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide—have only three to four vein pairs and good substance. This cultivar performs best in partial to light shade, as typical for hostas, and its small size makes it suitable for troughs, containers, or the front of a shaded border. Companion plants might include small ferns or woodland groundcovers.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season; apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. As with most hostas, protection from slugs and deer may be necessary in garden settings.