H. ‘Knit Pickin’

Overview

Registered in 2010, 'Knit Pickin' is a medium-sized variegated hosta of unknown breeder, derived from *Hosta* 'Lakeside Looking Glass' as the pod parent and an unnamed seedling as the pollen parent. The cultivar is visually distinctive for its very shiny, deeply corrugated ovate leaves with dark green, slightly rippled margins and a tapered base, combined with a unique flowering habit in which the shape and placement of flower buds are described as "shooting up" and the flower heads resemble a sparkler burning on July 4th.

In the Garden

'Knit Pickin' forms a moderate-growing, mound-like clump reaching 14 inches (35.6 cm) in height and 30 inches (76.2 cm) in diameter, making it suitable for mid-border positions in partial to full shade typical of hosta-growing zones. Its 11-inch (27.9 cm) long, 4.5-inch (11.4 cm) wide leaves with 8 to 10 vein pairs provide strong textural contrast when paired with finer-leaved perennials such as ferns or heucheras. The green scapes, reaching 22 to 26 inches (55.9 to 66.0 cm) in height, carry the sparkler-like flower heads above the foliage.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during the growing season and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Knit Pickin' is susceptible to slug and deer damage, so protective measures may be necessary in areas where these pests are prevalent.