H. ‘Hiawatha’

Hosta 'Hiawatha'
Illustration: The Hosta Farm Editorial Team.

Hosta ‘Hiawatha’ is a registered cultivar () .

Year registered2002
Section classIV-7 (Small)

Overview

Registered in 2002 as a sport of *Hosta* 'Red Ryder', 'Hiawatha' is a small, upright-growing cultivar distinguished by its dark green leaves with unstable creamy white marginal streaking and dark red petioles. The elliptic leaves, measuring 4 inches (10.2 cm) long and 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide, bear six vein pairs and have a flat base with a slightly shiny surface on both sides.

In the Garden

Reaching a mature diameter of 17 inches (43.2 cm) and height of 9 inches (22.9 cm), 'Hiawatha' forms a moderate-growing, upright clump suitable for the front of borders or rock gardens. Its small size and compact habit make it an appropriate choice for container cultivation, and it pairs well with other small perennials such as *Heuchera* or *Tiarella* in partial to full shade. The purple-green scapes, rising 13 to 15 inches (33.0 to 38.1 cm) tall, bear typical hosta flowers in midsummer.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Standard slug and deer precautions are advisable in typical hosta-growing zones, though the upright habit may reduce foliar contact with soil-dwelling pests.

Size and leaf

Clump height9 in (22.9 cm)
Clump width17 in (43.2 cm)
Leaf length4 in (10.2 cm)
Leaf width2 in (5.1 cm)
Vein pairs6
Leafdark green with unstable streaks of creamy white flat margins; slightly shiny on top; slightly shiny underneath; flat
Flower scape height13–15 in (33.0–38.1 cm)
Notable characteristicsdark red petioles; streaked, upright plant

From the American Hosta Society Registry record.

Parentage

Similar cultivars

Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (IV-7, small size):

Related guides

Registration data: AHS Registry #2530