H. ‘Ringmaster’
Hosta ‘Ringmaster’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Section class | IV-4b (Small) |
Overview
Registered in 2011, *Hosta* 'Ringmaster' is a sport of *Hosta* 'Dorset Clown' that produces a stable, white-margined leaf pattern distinct from the heavily streaked foliage of its parent. This small cultivar is visually defined by its intensely blue-green leaf centers framed by creamy white, flat margins, with a glaucous bloom on both leaf surfaces.
In the Garden
'Hosta' Ringmaster forms a slow-growing, mound-like clump reaching 10 inches (25.4 cm) in height and 24 inches (61.0 cm) in diameter. It performs best in partial to full shade, where the blue-green leaf color remains most intense, and pairs well with other small hostas, ferns, or shade-tolerant perennials such as *Heuchera* or *Tiarella*. Its compact size makes it suitable for rock gardens, troughs, or the front of shaded borders.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, applying a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Ringmaster' may be damaged by slugs and deer, so monitoring and protective measures are advisable in typical hosta-growing zones.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 10 in (25.4 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 24 in (61 cm) |
| Leaf length | 6 in (15.2 cm) |
| Leaf width | 4 in (10.2 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 12 |
| Leaf | intensely blue-green with .25 to .5in (0.6 to 1.3cm) wide, creamy white, flat margins; glaucous bloom on top; glaucous bloom underneath; moderately wavy, moderately corrugated |
| Flower scape height | 15–20 in (38.1–50.8 cm) |
| Seasonal colour change | center color becomes dark green by summer, margin changes from yellow to creamy white |
| Notable characteristics | stable white margined version of heavily streaked mother plant |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Sport parent: Sport of H. 'Dorset Clown' — H. ‘Dorset Clown’
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (IV-4b, small size):
- H. ‘Blue Ivory’ (2009)
- H. ‘August Fire’ (2008)
- H. ‘Sydney's Spunk’ (2007)
- H. ‘Dew Drop’ (1988)
- H. ‘Bold Edger’ (1983)
- H. ‘Allan P. McConnell’ (1980)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #4684