H. ‘Tom Boy’

Overview

Registered in 2010 by R. Kuenster, this medium-sized hosta of unknown parentage is distinguished by its nearly round, deeply corrugated blue-green leaves with flat golden yellow margins and a pronounced glaucous bloom on the undersides. The foliage is lightly cupped, slightly shiny above, and bears 14 to 16 pairs of veins, with the yellow margins contributing a heavy puckering effect across the leaf surface.

In the Garden

Reaching 15 inches (38.1 cm) in height and 32 inches (81.3 cm) in diameter at maturity, with an upright growth habit and moderate rate of increase, 'Tom Boy' performs best in partial to dappled shade, as is typical for blue-leaved hostas. Its substantial, corrugated foliage provides textural contrast when paired with finer-leaved perennials such as ferns or heucheras, and the pale yellow scapes, rising 24 to 30 inches (61.0 to 76.2 cm), offer additional seasonal interest.

Care Notes

Provide consistent moisture during establishment and throughout the growing season, applying a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new shoots emerge. As with many broad-leaved hostas, slug and deer damage may occur, particularly on the tender new foliage and the yellow margins.