H. ‘Quicksilver’
Hosta ‘Quicksilver’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Section class | III-4b (Medium) |
Overview
Registered in 2000, this medium-sized cultivar resulted from a cross between *Hosta* 'Dark Star' (pod parent) and *Hosta nigrescens* 'Elatior' (pollen parent). 'Quicksilver' is visually distinctive for its blue-green leaves edged with creamy white margins, the leaf surface being slightly shiny above and dull beneath, with a slightly rippled margin and rounded base.
In the Garden
'Quicksilver' forms an upright clump reaching approximately 24 inches (61.0 cm) in height and 36 inches (91.4 cm) in diameter, with a moderate growth rate. It performs best in partial to full shade, as typical for blue-leaved hostas, and pairs well with ferns, astilbes, and other shade perennials. Its medium size makes it suitable for mid-border positions in woodland gardens or shaded beds.
Care Notes
Water regularly during dry periods, particularly in the first growing season to establish a deep root system. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Quicksilver' is susceptible to slug and deer damage; monitor for these pests and apply controls as needed in typical hosta-growing zones.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 24 in (61 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 36 in (91.4 cm) |
| Leaf length | 9 in (22.9 cm) |
| Leaf width | 6 in (15.2 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 8 |
| Leaf | medium blue green creamy white, slightly rippled margins; slightly shiny on top; dull underneath |
| Flower scape height | 28 in (71.1 cm) |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Pod parent: H. Dark Star
- Pollen parent: H. nigrescens 'Elatior' — H. ‘Elatior’
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (III-4b, medium size):
- H. ‘Lakeside Beloved’ (1999)
- H. ‘Aristocrat’ (1997)
- H. ‘El Niño’ (2003)
- H. ‘Applause’ (2006)
- H. ‘Quiet Waters’ (2008)
- H. ‘Oshima Silk’ (2009)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #4536