H. ‘Key West’
Hosta ‘Key West’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Section class | I-3 (Giant) |
Overview
Registered in 1999, *Hosta* 'Key West' is a giant cultivar resulting from a cross between *H. nigrescens* 'Elatior' (pod parent) and *H.* 'High Noon' (pollen parent). It is visually distinctive for its large, cordate-based leaves that are green with greenish-yellow, slightly rippled margins, and for its upright, fast-growing habit.
In the Garden
'Key West' reaches a mature size of 29 inches (73.7 cm) in height and 45 inches (114.3 cm) in diameter, making it suitable as a specimen or background plant in partial to full shade. Its substantial leaves and upright form pair well with ferns, astilbes, and other shade-tolerant perennials. Due to its giant size, it is not recommended for container cultivation.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like many large-leaved hostas, it may be susceptible to slug damage; monitor and manage as needed. It is hardy in typical hosta-growing zones.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 29 in (73.7 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 45 in (114.3 cm) |
| Leaf length | 14 in (35.6 cm) |
| Leaf width | 11 in (27.9 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 15 |
| Leaf | greenish yellow slightly rippled margins; slightly shiny on top; dull underneath |
| Flower scape height | 32–38 in (81.3–96.5 cm) |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Pod parent: H. nigrescens 'Elatior' — H. ‘Elatior’
- Pollen parent: H. 'High Noon' — H. ‘High Noon’
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (I-3, giant size):
- H. ‘Great Lakes Gold’ (2000)
- H. ‘Streets of Gold’ (2006)
- H. ‘Leo’ (2009)
- H. ‘River of Gold’ (2014)
- H. ‘Fragrant Gold’ (1982)
- H. ‘Golden Sculpture’ (1982)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #3002