H. ‘Stiff Upper Lip’
Hosta ‘Stiff Upper Lip’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Section class | II-2 (Large) |
Overview
Registered in 2010 by an unknown hybridizer, *Hosta* 'Stiff Upper Lip' is a large cultivar distinguished by its intensely blue-green, heavily corrugated leaves with a glaucous bloom on the undersides. The nearly round leaves, measuring 10 inches (25.4 cm) long and 8 inches (20.3 cm) wide, exhibit lightly twisted and wavy margins, with 11 pairs of veins and a dull upper surface.
In the Garden
This cultivar forms a substantial mound 22 inches (55.9 cm) tall and 48 inches (121.9 cm) in diameter, with a moderate growth rate. It performs well under a dark canopy, where its blue-green foliage and lavender flowers on scapes reaching 30 to 38 inches (76.2 to 96.5 cm) are particularly visible. Suitable for typical hosta-growing zones, it pairs effectively with ferns or other shade-tolerant perennials that contrast with its bold, corrugated leaves.
Care Notes
Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, and apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges. The thick, corrugated leaves offer some resistance to slugs, though deer may still browse the foliage.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 22 in (55.9 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 48 in (121.9 cm) |
| Leaf length | 10 in (25.4 cm) |
| Leaf width | 8 in (20.3 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 11 |
| Leaf | blue-green slightly rippled margins; dull on top; glaucous bloom underneath; lightly twisted, lightly wavy, deeply corrugated |
| Flower scape height | 30–38 in (76.2–96.5 cm) |
| Notable characteristics | dark blue green leaves with substance and heavy corrugation' lavender flowers on tall scapes, shines under a dark canopy |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (II-2, large size):
- H. ‘Blue Ripples’ (2009)
- H. ‘Blue Tips’ (2009)
- H. ‘Neptune’ (2006)
- H. ‘Queen of the Seas’ (2001)
- H. ‘Aksarben’ (1988)
- H. ‘Blue Rock’ (1986)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #5392