H. ‘Midnight Express’
Hosta ‘Midnight Express’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Section class | I-2 (Giant) |
Overview
Registered in 1996, *Hosta* 'Midnight Express' is a giant hybrid derived from *H. 'Sagae'*. It is visually distinctive for its very large, cordate blue-green leaves with slightly rippled margins and dull surfaces on both sides, forming a substantial upright mound.
In the Garden
'Midnight Express' reaches a mature spread of 72 inches (182.9 cm) and a height of 28 inches (71.1 cm), making it suitable as a bold specimen or focal point in partially shaded borders. Its moderate growth rate and upright habit allow it to pair well with ferns, astilbes, and other shade-tolerant perennials that contrast in texture or color. It is too large for container cultivation.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Slugs and deer may damage the foliage; monitor regularly and manage as needed in typical hosta-growing zones.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 28 in (71.1 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 72 in (182.9 cm) |
| Leaf length | 13 in (33 cm) |
| Leaf width | 10 in (25.4 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 14 |
| Leaf | slightly blue green slightly rippled margins; dull on top; dull underneath |
| Flower scape height | 43–46 in (109.2–116.8 cm) |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Pod parent: Hybrid of H. 'Sagae' — H. ‘Sagae’
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (I-2, giant size):
- H. ‘Cool Change’ (1995)
- H. ‘Hirao Zeus’ (1997)
- H. ‘Abiqua Elephant Ears’ (1999)
- H. ‘Big and Blue’ (2000)
- H. ‘Kong’ (1990)
- H. ‘Eola Sapphire’ (2004)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #3736