H. ‘Iron Sky’
Hosta ‘Iron Sky’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Section class | IV-2 (Small) |
Overview
Registered in 2012 as a sport of *Hosta* 'Flemish Sky', 'Iron Sky' is a small, mound-forming cultivar distinguished by its intensely blue-green foliage with a heavy glaucous bloom on both leaf surfaces. Its leaves are notably thick, ovate with flat bases, and exhibit slightly rippled margins with light folding and waviness.
In the Garden
'Iron Sky' reaches a mature diameter of approximately 15 inches (38 cm) and a height of 8 inches (21 cm), making it suitable for the front of shaded borders, rock gardens, or woodland settings. It performs best in partial to full shade and pairs well with other small hostas, ferns, or shade-tolerant perennials such as *Heuchera* and *Tiarella*. Its compact size also makes it an excellent candidate for container cultivation.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, particularly in dry spells, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, it is susceptible to slug and deer damage; monitor regularly and employ barriers or repellents as needed in typical hosta-growing zones.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 8.2 in (20.8 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 15.1 in (38.4 cm) |
| Leaf length | 4.6 in (11.7 cm) |
| Leaf width | 2.7 in (6.9 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 8 |
| Leaf | intensely blue-green slightly rippled margins; glaucous bloom on top; glaucous bloom underneath; lightly folded, lightly wavy |
| Flower scape height | 8.3–10.2 in (21.1–25.9 cm) |
| Notable characteristics | very thick, intensely blue leaves |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Sport parent: Sport of H. 'Flemish Sky' — H. ‘Flemish Sky’
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (IV-2, small size):
- H. ‘Blue Hearts’ (2010)
- H. ‘Faerie Cups’ (2010)
- H. ‘Pacific Blue Edger’ (2009)
- H. ‘Miss Linda Smith’ (2006)
- H. ‘Mr Blue’ (2005)
- H. ‘Blue Elf’ (2020)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #2765