H. ‘Over the Rainbow’
Hosta ‘Over the Rainbow’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Section class | II-7 (Large) |
Overview
Registered in 2005, 'Over the Rainbow' is a large hosta of unknown pollen parentage, derived from a seedling of *Hosta* 'Dorothy Benedict'. It is visually distinctive for its heavily streaked foliage, which displays a range of colors from dark green through medium green and greenish yellow to yellow, set against gold leaf margins with heavily rippled edges.
In the Garden
'Over the Rainbow' forms an upright clump reaching 21 inches (53.3 cm) in height and 18 inches (45.7 cm) in diameter, with a slow growth rate. It performs best in partial to dappled shade, typical of most hostas, and its large, corrugated leaves with a glaucous bloom beneath provide textural contrast when paired with finer-leaved perennials such as ferns or heucheras. The broadly ovate, cordate-based leaves are 10.5 inches (26.7 cm) long and 8.25 inches (21.0 cm) wide, with 14 to 15 vein pairs.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, particularly in warmer exposures, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. As with many large-leaved hostas, slug and deer damage may occur and should be managed preventatively.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 21 in (53.3 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 18 in (45.7 cm) |
| Leaf length | 10.5 in (26.7 cm) |
| Leaf width | 8.25 in (21 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 15 |
| Leaf | heavily streaked with a rainbow of colors from dark green to medium green to greenish yellow to yell heavily rippled margins; slightly shiny on top; glaucous bloom underneath; lightly wavy, moderately corrugated |
| Flower scape height | 23–29 in (58.4–73.7 cm) |
| Notable characteristics | large heavily rippled multicolored streaked pod parent, white flowers |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Pod parent: seedling of H. 'Dorothy Benedict' — H. ‘Dorothy Benedict’
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (II-7, large size):
- H. ‘Cosmic Sister’ (2006)
- H. ‘Justice’ (2003)
- H. ‘Quesadilla’ (2010)
- H. ‘Athena’ (2005)
- H. ‘Birth of the Blues’ (2005)
- H. ‘Confused Angel’ (2005)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #4184