H. ‘Sting’

Overview

'Sting' is a 2011 sport of 'Anne' that turns its parent's pattern inside out. Where 'Anne' has a dark green center with a pale yellow margin, 'Sting' has a creamy white center with a dark green, slightly rippled margin 1.2 in (3.0 cm) wide. The registrant notes a flamed center, meaning the white does not sit as a neat block. Leaves are broadly ovate and lightly cupped, slightly shiny above.

In the Garden

The notable-characteristics field calls 'Sting' sun resistant. It is the registrant's statement rather than a trial result, so try one plant in a brighter spot before committing a whole sunny bed. The mound is registered at 27.6 in (70.1 cm) across with a moderate growth rate, and the scapes are white and green.

How it compares

'Anne' (2005) is the parent and almost identical in size (29.5 by 13.75 in). Its record describes it as a tetraploid with thick, cupped, rounded leaves, a pale yellow margin that turns golden and numerous lavender flowers.

'Whirlwind Flame' (2014), a sport of 'Whirlwind Tour', also has a white center but a narrower dark green margin (0.5 in) and intensely twisted leaves. It is registered at 20 by 12 in with a slow growth rate.

'Rainbow's End' has a yellow center that the record says turns creamy white in summer, edged in shades of green, on a mound registered at 21 by 11 in with a slow growth rate. Of the three, only 'Sting' has a registered claim of sun resistance.

Flowers and other notes

Medium lavender flowers on scapes of 17.7 in (45.0 cm) are recorded from early July to early August in the Netherlands, and 'Sting' does not set seed. Watering, mulch and slug control are covered in our hosta care guide.

Sources: AHS Registry records for 'Sting' (#5137), 'Anne' (#3), 'Whirlwind Flame' (#6087) and 'Rainbow's End' (#4561), hostaregistrar.org.