H. ‘Willy Nilly’
Hosta ‘Willy Nilly’ is a registered cultivar () , originated by P. Ruh.
| Year registered | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Registrant | P. Ruh |
| Section class | II-1 (Large) |
Last checked against the AHS registry:
Overview
'Willy Nilly' is a gray-green hosta originated by G. Holly and registered in 1996 by P. Ruh, with parentage unknown. Its leaves are waxy on top and dull beneath, 11 by 8.25 in (27.9 by 21.0 cm), with a rounded base and slightly rippled edges.
In the Garden
The record calls the clump upright, with a slow growth rate, 29 in across and 18 in high. The scapes are deep green and 15 to 20 in tall.
How it compares
'Krossa Regal' (1980) is the blue-gray upright alternative: a blue-gray leaf of 15 by 8 in on an upright clump 36 in across and 36 in high, with scapes of 72 in.
'Lean on Me' (2008) is a sport of 'Willy Nilly' registered at 60 by 29 in, with leaves of 16 by 12 in that are greenish yellow in the center, ripening to golden yellow, inside a medium blue-green margin 2 to 4 in wide.
'Pioneer' (1984) gives a jade green, ruffled leaf of 13 by 9 in on a clump registered at 55 in across and 28 in high, with scapes of 36 to 38 in.
Flowers and other notes
The registered size comes from a 16-year-old clump in Chesterland, Ohio. The record does not say whether the waxy surface holds through summer, and it gives no light preference; general advice is in the hosta care guide.
Sources: AHS Registry records for 'Willy Nilly' (#6145), 'Krossa Regal' (#3109), 'Lean on Me' (#3327) and 'Pioneer' (#4363), hostaregistrar.org.
Size and leaf
| Clump height | 18 in (45.7 cm) |
|---|---|
| Clump width | 29 in (73.7 cm) |
| Leaf length | 11 in (27.9 cm) |
| Leaf width | 8.25 in (21 cm) |
| Vein pairs | 14 |
| Leaf | gray green slightly rippled margins; waxy on top; dull underneath |
| Flower scape height | 15–20 in (38.1–50.8 cm) |
From the American Hosta Society Registry record.
Parentage
Registered cultivars that list Hosta ‘Willy Nilly’ as a parent:
- H. ‘Lean on Me’ (sport)
- H. ‘Headliner’ (seedling (pod parent))
Similar cultivars
Other registered hostas in the same AHS section class (II-1, large size):
- H. ‘Foxfire Irish Moon’ (2003)
- H. ‘Nakaimo’ (1986)
- H. ‘Pioneer’ (1984)
- H. ‘Emerald Green’ (1996)
- H. ‘Ersatz’ (1996)
- H. ‘Innovation’ (1996)
Related guides
Registration data: AHS Registry #6145. How we check this data.