H. ‘Unexpected Company’
Hosta ‘Unexpected Company’ is a registered cultivar () .
| Year registered | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Section class | III-6a (Medium) |
Overview
Registered in 2005, *Hosta* 'Unexpected Company' is a medium-sized cultivar of unknown pollen parentage, with *Hosta* 'Great Expectations' as its pod parent. It is visually distinctive for its greenish-yellow leaves edged with a dark green, slightly rippled margin, combined with moderate corrugation and thick substance.
In the Garden
'Unexpected Company' forms a slow-growing, mound-like clump reaching 9 inches (22.9 cm) in height and 18 inches (45.7 cm) in diameter. It performs best in partial to full shade, typical for gold-margined hostas, where the leaf coloration remains stable. Its medium size and textured foliage make it suitable for the middle of a shaded border or as a specimen in a woodland garden, pairing well with ferns, heucheras, and other shade perennials.
Care Notes
Water regularly during dry periods, applying at the base to avoid leaf spot. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release formulation. Like most hostas, it is susceptible to slug and deer damage; monitor and manage as needed in typical hosta-growing zones.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 9 in (22.9 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 18 in (45.7 cm) |
| Leaf length | 6 in (15.2 cm) |
| Leaf width | 5 in (12.7 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 12 |
| Leaf | greenish yellow with .5in (1.3cm) wide, dark green, slightly rippled margins; slightly shiny on top; slightly shiny underneath; moderately corrugated |
| Flower scape height | 10–12 in (25.4–30.5 cm) |
| Notable characteristics | medium-sized, thick substance, puckered leaf with variable green margin |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
- Pod parent: H. 'Great Expectations' — H. ‘Great Expectations’
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (III-6a, medium size):
- H. ‘Andrew’ (2006)
- H. ‘Lakeside Paisley Print’ (2006)
- H. ‘Vulcan’ (2007)
- H. ‘American Sweetheart’ (2002)
- H. ‘Avocado’ (1998)
- H. ‘Broad Street’ (2012)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #5890