H. ‘Showboat’
Hosta ‘Showboat’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 1993 |
|---|---|
| Section class | II-4b (Large) |
Overview
Registered in 1993, *Hosta* 'Showboat' is a large cultivar bred from the pod parent *H.* 'Christmas Tree' and the pollen parent *H.* '81-9'. It is visually distinguished by its dark green leaves with broad, creamy white margins that extend approximately 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide, creating a pronounced variegated pattern.
In the Garden
'Showboat' reaches a mature diameter of 28 inches (71.1 cm) and a height of 14 inches (35.6 cm), making it suitable as a mid-border specimen or groundcover in partial to full shade. Its large, slightly shiny leaves with smooth margins pair well with ferns, astilbes, and other shade-tolerant perennials. The green scape, reaching 27 inches (68.6 cm) in height, supports pale lavender flowers in midsummer.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture during the growing season, particularly in warmer climates, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. Like most hostas, 'Showboat' is susceptible to slug and deer damage in typical hosta-growing zones.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 14 in (35.6 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 28 in (71.1 cm) |
| Leaf length | 9.5 in (24.1 cm) |
| Leaf width | 7.5 in (19.1 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 11 |
| Leaf | dark green with 1.5in (3.8cm) wide, creamy white, smooth margins; slightly shiny on top; dull underneath |
| Flower scape height | 27 in (68.6 cm) |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Pod parent: H. 'Christmas Tree' — H. ‘Christmas Tree’
- Pollen parent: H. '81-9'
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (II-4b, large size):
- H. ‘Blazing Saddles’ (2000)
- H. ‘Earth Angel’ (2002)
- H. ‘Amazing Matthew’ (2003)
- H. ‘Splendid Sarah’ (2005)
- H. ‘Lakeside Prophecy Fulfilled’ (2006)
- H. ‘Border Street’ (2008)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #5125