H. ‘Ode to Joy’
Hosta ‘Ode to Joy’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Section class | I-7 (Giant) |
Overview
Registered in 2004 as a sport of *Hosta* 'Moonlight Sonata', 'Ode to Joy' is a giant cultivar distinguished by its nearly round, blue-green leaves with white margins and unstable white streaking. The foliage bears a dull glaucous bloom on the upper surface and a glaucous bloom beneath, with lightly rippled margins and light corrugation.
In the Garden
This cultivar forms a mound 20 inches (50.8 cm) tall and 40 inches (101.6 cm) wide, with a moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical for blue-leaved hostas, and its substantial size makes it suitable as a specimen or background plant in woodland borders. The fragrant flowers appear on scapes 36 to 39 inches (91.4 to 99.1 cm) high.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, particularly in warmer climates. Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as shoots emerge. As with many large-leaved cultivars, slug and deer damage may occur and should be managed through appropriate barriers or deterrents.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 20 in (50.8 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 40 in (101.6 cm) |
| Leaf length | 12 in (30.5 cm) |
| Leaf width | 10 in (25.4 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 14 |
| Leaf | blue green with unstable streaks of white slightly rippled margins; dull glaucous bloom on top; glaucous bloom underneath; lightly cupped and lightly corrugated |
| Flower scape height | 36–39 in (91.4–99.1 cm) |
| Notable characteristics | streaked blue-green fragrant hosta |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Sport parent: Sport of H. 'Moonlight Sonata' — H. ‘Moonlight Sonata’
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (I-7, giant size):
- H. ‘Blizzard’ (2003)
- H. ‘Niagara on the Lake’ (2003)
- H. ‘Northern Mystery’ (2009)
- H. ‘Valley's Love Cats’ (2015)
- H. ‘Galaxy’ (1987)
- H. ‘Giant Streaker’ (2004)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #4084