H. ‘King of Spades’
Hosta ‘King of Spades’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Section class | III-1 (Medium) |
Overview
Registered in 2007, *Hosta* 'King of Spades' is a medium-sized variegated cultivar resulting from a cross between *Hosta* 'Neat Splash' (pod parent) and *Hosta* 'Blue Moon' (pollen parent). Its most distinctive feature is the leaf shape and texture: broadly ovate leaves with flat bases resemble a playing card spade, with deep, concentrated corrugation in the leaf center while the margins remain flat and un-puckered.
In the Garden
This cultivar forms an upright, moderate-growing clump reaching 16 inches (40.6 cm) in height and 30 inches (76.2 cm) in diameter. The dark green leaves with flat margins measure 6 inches (15.2 cm) long by 5 inches (12.7 cm) wide, bearing 9 to 10 vein pairs. Green scapes rise 20 to 22 inches (50.8 to 55.9 cm) above the foliage. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical of most hostas, and pairs well with ferns, heucheras, and other shade-tolerant perennials. Its medium size makes it suitable for border fronts or shaded beds.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, applying a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new shoots emerge. As with most hostas, monitor for slug damage, particularly on the deeply corrugated leaf centers where pests may shelter.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 16 in (40.6 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 30 in (76.2 cm) |
| Leaf length | 6 in (15.2 cm) |
| Leaf width | 5 in (12.7 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 10 |
| Leaf | dark green flat margins; lightly folded, deeply corrugated in leaf middle |
| Flower scape height | 20–22 in (50.8–55.9 cm) |
| Notable characteristics | unique leaf looks like a spade, with specialized puckering, none on edge, intensely in middle |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Pod parent: H. 'Neat Splash' — H. ‘Neat Splash’
- Pollen parent: H. 'Blue Moon' — H. ‘Blue Moon’
Registered cultivars that list Hosta ‘King of Spades’ as a parent:
- H. ‘Rough Knight’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Smokey Mountains’ (seedling (pod parent))
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (III-1, medium size):
- H. ‘Akane’ (2010)
- H. ‘Free Jazz’ (2011)
- H. ‘Cherry Flip’ (2012)
- H. ‘Floramora’ (2012)
- H. ‘Bellevue’ (2013)
- H. ‘Lucille’ (2001)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #3030