H. ‘Liberty’
Hosta ‘Liberty’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Section class | I-5b (Giant) |
Last checked against the AHS registry:
What it looks like
'Liberty' is an upright hosta with blue-green leaves carrying a very wide margin: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) of golden yellow in the AHS registry record. The leaves have a glaucous (powdery) bloom on both sides and a rounded base. According to the Hosta of the Year booklet, the margin changes from yellow to creamy white by mid-season, the same way the margin of its parent 'Sagae' does. Flowers are pale lavender, about 2.4 in long, recorded in bloom from July 1 to August 1 in Virginia.
Registered size vs. grown size
| Source | Height | Width | Leaf (L × W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHS Registry record (2000) | 39.4 in (100 cm) | 39.4 in (100 cm) | 12.6 × 9.8 in (32 × 25 cm) |
| AHS Hosta of the Year booklet | 26 in (66 cm) | 63 in (160 cm) | — |
The registry measured a 3-year-old clump. The booklet calls it "Large" and gives 26 × 63 in. The two rows come from different sources and describe different clumps, so they are not directly comparable.
Where it fits
The registry records an upright habit and a moderate growth rate; the booklet calls the plant "Large". Neither source gives a siting recommendation.
How it compares
- 'Sagae' is the parent: narrower margin (booklet), booklet size of 31 × 70 in (26 × 63 in for 'Liberty' in the same booklet), and a booklet note of good slug resistance for it.
- 'Frances Williams' also pairs blue-green with a yellow margin, on 12 × 10 in leaves; its registry record gives 36 in across and 18 in high but no habit or margin width.
- 'Earth Angel' has blue-green leaves with a creamy white margin 0.5–1 in wide in its registry record, and the booklet lists it as a mounding giant (30 × 60 in). Its registry record gives a mound-like habit. Pick 'Earth Angel' if a creamy white edge matters more than an upright habit; 'Liberty' is registered as upright, with a golden yellow margin that the booklet says turns creamy white by mid-season.
Parentage and awards
Sport of 'Sagae' (registry and booklet). Originated, named, introduced and registered by J. Machen, Jr. Plant patent PP12,531.
- AHGA Hosta of the Year 2012 (booklet; registry comments). The booklet calls it "the sensation of the 2000 American Hosta Society convention".
- Listed in every AHS Popularity Poll from 2006 to 2024; second in the 2024 medium-to-large list.
- No Benedict garden performance award appears in the AHS list we checked.
Limits and unknowns
Neither the registration nor the booklet says how 'Liberty' copes with sun or slugs; the slug note in the booklet belongs to 'Sagae', not to this sport. For general culture, see the hosta care guide. Patented: propagation for sale needs a license while the patent is in force; we have not checked its expiry date.
Sources
Profile written and checked against the sources above on .
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 39.4 in (100.1 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 39.4 in (100.1 cm) |
| Leaf length | 12.6 in (32 cm) |
| Leaf width | 9.8 in (24.9 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 12 |
| Leaf | medium blue green with 2.5in (6.4cm) wide, golden yellow, flat margins; glaucous bloom on top; glaucous bloom underneath |
| Flower scape height | 32–35 in (81.3–88.9 cm) |
| Plant patent | PP12,531 PBR13145 QZ |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
Registered cultivars that list Hosta ‘Liberty’ as a parent:
- H. ‘Game Boy’ (sport)
- H. ‘Age of Aquarius’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Dutch Flame’ (sport)
- H. ‘Green Pastures’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Main Event’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Quasar’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Still Waters’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Strike it Rich’ (seedling (pod parent))
- H. ‘Too Darn Hot’ (seedling (pod parent))
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (I-5b, giant size):
- H. ‘David A. Haskell’ (1999)
- H. ‘Frances Williams’ (1986)
- H. ‘Buckeye’ (2000)
- H. ‘Celestial’ (2000)
- H. ‘Climax’ (2000)
- H. ‘Eagle's Nest’ (2000)
Related guides
Looking for ‘Liberty’ on Amazon
Third-party sellers list this cultivar on Amazon. We have not bought these plants and cannot confirm that what arrives is true to name, so compare the listing photos with the description on this page and check the seller, plant size (bare root, quart or gallon) and shipping season before buying.
Search Amazon for ‘Liberty’ · What to expect from hostas sold on Amazon
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Registration data: AHS Registry #3374. How we check this data.