H. ‘Olive Oil’
Hosta ‘Olive Oil’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Section class | II-1 (Large) |
Overview
Registered in 1996, this large hosta cultivar resulted from a cross between *Hosta* 'Yellow Splash' and *Hosta hypoleuca*. 'Olive Oil' is visually distinctive for its heavily textured, very shiny leaves with light green, slightly rippled margins and a rounded base, set against a variegated background.
In the Garden
With a mature diameter of 40 inches (101.6 cm) and height of 23 inches (58.4 cm), 'Olive Oil' forms an upright, moderately growing clump suitable for partial to full shade in typical hosta-growing zones. Its large, glossy foliage pairs well with ferns, astilbes, and other shade-tolerant perennials, and it can serve as a specimen or groundcover in woodland borders. The brown scapes, reaching up to 36 inches (91.4 cm), carry flowers above the foliage.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most large-leaved hostas, this cultivar is susceptible to slug damage and deer browsing, so appropriate management may be necessary.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 23 in (58.4 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 40 in (101.6 cm) |
| Leaf length | 11 in (27.9 cm) |
| Leaf width | 7 in (17.8 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 10 |
| Leaf | light green slightly rippled margins; very shiny on top; very shiny underneath |
| Flower scape height | 36 in (91.4 cm) |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Pod parent: H. 'Yellow Splash' — H. ‘Yellow Splash’
- Pollen parent: H. hypoleuca
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (II-1, large size):
- H. ‘Willy Nilly’ (1996)
- H. ‘Tracy's Emerald Cup’ (1997)
- H. ‘Foxfire Irish Moon’ (2003)
- H. ‘Duke’ (1988)
- H. ‘Nakaimo’ (1986)
- H. ‘Pioneer’ (1984)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #4134