H. ‘Helen Doriot’

Overview

'Helen Doriot' is a blue giant from a cross of 'Frances Williams' and 'Elegans', registered in 1982 by D. Reath. Its leaf is large even for a giant: blue-green, 17 by 14 in (43.2 by 35.6 cm), with 16 vein pairs and a cordate base. The record stops there; it does not describe surface, texture or habit.

In the Garden

The plant is registered at 65 in (165.1 cm) across and 28 in high, with scapes of 34 in.

How it compares

'Frances Williams', the seed parent, is a sport of 'Elegans' with blue-green leaves and chartreuse-to-yellow margins, registered at 36 by 18 in. 'Helen Doriot' has the plain blue leaf and the bigger registered leaf (17 by 14 in against 12 by 10 in).

'Gentle Giant' (2005) is a half-sibling, also from a 'Frances Williams' pod, but a different shape: registered as upright and fast-growing, 68 by 42 in, with nearly round, deeply cupped leaves of 13 by 12 in and lavender flowers on stems of 48 to 55 in. Pick it if an upright habit matters more than leaf size.

'Kong' (1990) is registered a little wider at 70 by 29 in, with longer but narrower leaves of 15 by 10 in and pale lavender flowers.

'Aksarben' (1988), a 'Tokudama' × H. sieboldiana cross, is also blue-green but registered much smaller: 26 in across and 21 in high, with leaves of 12 by 9.25 in.

Flowers and other notes

The record gives white flowers, observed in Michigan, and stops short of bloom dates or growth rate. General planting advice is in our hosta care guide.

Sources: AHS Registry records for 'Helen Doriot' (#2503), 'Frances Williams' (#1916), 'Gentle Giant' (#2049), 'Kong' (#3099) and 'Aksarben' (#164), hostaregistrar.org.