 | The Gardeners
The Close Memorial Park Hosta Garden in Springfield, Missouri, was created and is maintained by volunteers who are members of The Greater Ozarks Hosta Society.
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 | Hosta beds
This island bed in the Close Memorial Park garden is a good example of the versatility of hostas in beds and borders of all designs. |
 | Serenity
Green, they say, is the most soothing color, and that may be the reason for the unusually serene and calming nature of hosta gardens. Of Asian origin, the plant is noted in Japanese texts from the 8th century and has long been used in classical Japanese gardens. |
 | Many varieties
Hosta plants have so grown so popular with gardeners that they are now the biggest-selling perennial in America. An even greater indicator of their success with gardeners may be that there are 4000 varieties available. The Close Park garden affords a wonderful opportunity to see and get to know many of the most successful varieties. |
 | Rock plants
Smaller varieties of hosta make beautiful rock garden plants. The 'Little Wonder' variety at lower left, a true miniature variety, grows to 6" high and 12-14" wide and really stands out for its sharply margined deep green leaves and cream-to-white margins. |
 | Lighter leaves
You might find this beautiful low-growing hosta by any of three different spellings, 'Ground Sulfer,' 'Ground Sulfur,' or 'Ground Sulphur.' Its small size and very pale chartreuse-gold leaves make it especially attractive as an edging plant. It grows 5-8" tall and about 9" wide. |
 | 'Abba Dabba Doo'
'Abba Dabba Doo' is a superb background or specimen plant by virtue of its size. It grows to 28 inches tall and 60 inches wide. Its sriking leaves are wavy, medium-green with cream margins, and have pointed tips. Pale lavender blooms appear in midsummer.
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 | 'Abiqua Moonbeam'
The 'Abiqua Moonbeam' Hosta, a sport, or mutant, of 'August Moon, features beautiful heart-shaped leaves with blue-green centers and wide gold margins. It grows vigorously to 26 inches tall and 30 inches wide. Lavendar flowers appear in July.
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 | 'Allan P. McConnell'
'Allan P. McConnell' is an extra-engaging hosta in part for the neat, compact, symmetrical mound it forms of small green leaves with a narrow white margin. The plant grows to 8 inches tall with an 18-inch spread, making it ideal for edging beds and borders. Dark purple flowers appear in mid-July and August.
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 | 'August Moon'
'August Moon' is one of the hostas that thrive in full sun. It grows vigorously to 20-24 inches tall and 36-42 inches wide. The leaves are large, leathery, deeply veined and green-gold in color, becoming more harvest gold with summer.
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 | 'Aureonebulosa'
We're sure this hosta is mislabeled, but we'll tell you about the 'Aureonebulosa' hosta nonetheless. Sometimes called 'Tokudama Aureonebulosa,' it actually features lovely cupped green leaves with a quilted texture and bold strokes of blue-green. It grows to 12 inches high and 16 inches wide in a rosette-like clump. White flowers appear in early summer.
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 | 'Austin Dickinson'
Tsk tsk. Here's another one we're sure is mislabeled. 'Austin Dickinson'actually has darker green, more rounded leaves with very bold white margins. It grows in an upright mound to 18 inches high and as wide as 50 inches. Dark purple, fragrant flowers appear in late summer.
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 | 'Azure Mediterranean'
'Azure Mediterranean' is a smaller hosta originated by Calvin Helsley of Mansfield, Missouri. It features very neat, rippled, blue-green leaves and grows in a mound 5 inches high and 14 inches wide. Pale lavender flowers appear in mid-July.
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 | 'Birchwood Parky's Gold'
'Birchwood Parky's Gold'
is a vigorous, eyecatching hosta with heart-shaped, yellow-green leaves
that turn a richer yellow over the season. It forms an neat mound that
can reach 14-16 inches tall and 30 inches wide and bears an abundance
of long-lasting blue-lavender flowers from mid- to late summer.
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 | 'Blue Angel'
One of the largest and most dramatic-looking of all hostas, 'Blue Angel' has deep blue-green leaves and can grow into a mound 30" tall and 72" (that's 6 feet!) wide. The smaller hosta at the lower left is 'Great Expectations,' an appealing plant that grows slowly to 24" tall and 50" wide.
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 | 'Blue Cadet'
'Blue Cadet' is an outstanding blue hosta that thrives beautifully in deep shade. It features lush ridged leaves and grows into a neat mound 18 inches tall with a similar spread. Dark lavender flowers appear in July.
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 | 'Brave Amhurst'
This, it appears, is another mislabeled hosta. 'Brave Amhurst' (more commonly spelled 'Amherst') actually has dark blue-green leaves with creamy white margins. It grows to 18 inches high and 24 inches wide and bears pale lavender, nearly white flowers in early summer.
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 | 'Bressingham Blue'
Another mislabeled hosta? Possibly, although this may be a juvenile. (Help, hosta experts!) 'Bressingham Blue' has wider, more heart-shaped blue-green leaves. It grows to 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide and bears long-lasting, purple flowers in summer.
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 | 'Carnival'
The 'Carnival' hosta is a real prize in the garden. It features rich green, slightly wavy leaves with beautiful "painted" yellow-cream margins. It grows to 16 inches high and 36 inches wide and will tolerate sun.
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 | 'Chiquita'
One of the most eyecatching "gold" hostas, 'Chiquita' produces a spray of very long, lance-like leaves that start out bright yellow and turn lime green as the season progresses. The plant can grow to 24 inches tall and 48 inches wide.
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 | 'Dee's Golden Jewel'
Oops, it looks like another mislabeling. 'Dee's Golden Jewel' is actually a gold hosta whose leaves have no margins. (Help, hosta experts!)
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 | 'Diamond Tiara'
'Diamond Tiara' is a neatly compact hosta that boasts dark green leaves with attractive white margins. An exceptionally vigorous grower, it can reach 14 inches tall and 30 inches wide. Purple flowers appear in early August.
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 | The Tiaras
The 'Emerald Tiara' hosta at left in this picture, with its pale-green leaves with darker green margins, grows to 20" tall and 16" wide. The 'Grand Tiara' variety at right sports darker green centers and lighter margins. It reaches 14" tall and 22" wide and is noted for blooming profusely in midsummer.
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 | 'Emily Dickinson'
Deep green glossy leaves with creamy white margins, a neat, compact, mounded habit, and deep lavender flowers make 'Emily Dickinson' a welcome plant in any garden. Introduced in 1987, this hosta has become increasingly popular. It grows to 20 inches tall and 26 inches wide.
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 | 'Francee'
'Francee' sports heart-shaped heavily veined, dark green leaves with silvery margins. A vigorous grower, it can grow to 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Purple flowers appear in midsummer. an extremely popular hosta. Very striking in the garden, it's also extremely popular.
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 | 'Frances Williams'
Often misspelled as here "Francis Williams," this remarkable hosta is named after the woman who bred it, Frances Williams. It features heart-shaped, very large leaves with lovely "painted" greenish-yellow margins. 'Frances Williams' grows to 18 inches tall and 36 inches wide. It bears white flowers in midsummer.
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 | 'Fried Bananas'
Caught in the morning light, 'Fried Bananas' is most notable for its thick, furrowed gold-chartreuse leaves and, in August, unusually fragrant flowers. It grows to 18 inches tall and 30 inches wide at maturity. A sport of 'Guacamole', it grows quickly and likes morning sun.
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 | 'Fried Green Tomatoes'
Said to be a sport of the 'Guacamole' hosta, 'Fried Green Tomatoes' is a faster-growing variety with leaves that darken as the season progresses. It reaches 18" tall and 36" wide.
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 | 'Frosted Jade'
'Frosted Jade' may get its name from its leaves' white edging or from their remarkable sheen, which reflects light so intensely that at certain angles they appear frosted. Dark green and wavy, the leaves are veined with white edging. The plant prefers shade and grows to 28 inches tall and 36 inches wide. Lavendar flowers appear in early to mid summer.
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 | 'Gold Edger Supreme'
'Gold Edger Supreme' is an engaging miniature hosta that grows 4-6 inches tall and 6-9 inches wide. The leaves are greenish-yellow with thin, "painted" white margins and are slightly cupped. Pale lavender flowers appear om early summer to midsummer. As the name suggests, it's an excellent choice for edging beds or borders.
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 | 'Gold Regal'
'Gold Regal' can be virtually spectacular in the garden, presenting green leaves in spring that in time turn bright yellow. The plant grows in a beautiful, upright, vase-like clump to 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide. Lavender flowers appear in early summer. Its golder coloring is best with half-day sun.
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 | 'Guacamole'
This 'Guacamole' variety hosta is noted for its unusually shiny green-edged gold-chartreuse leaves and fragrant flowers in July. A relative newcomer, it was the American Hosta Growers Association Hosta of the Year in 2002. The smaller hosta at lower left is 'Radiant Edger,' a variety extremely popular for its coloration and neat appearance.
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 | 'Gypsy Rose'
Description to come
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 | 'Honeysong'
'Honeysong' is for many gardeners one of the most charming of the variegated hostas. It grows 15-20 inches high with 6-7-inch "painted" leaves, a nicely mounding habit, and fragrant lavender flowers in July.
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 | 'Hyacinthina'
Description to come
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 | 'Invincible'
Description to come
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 | 'Jade Scepter'
Description to come
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 | 'Janet'
Oops. Looks like another mislabeled hosta. 'Janet' actually has leaves that are more heart-shaped and are gold-chartreuse edged with green margins. The margins remain green, but the leaves turn creamy white as the season progresses. 'Janet' likes shade to partial shade, grows to 18 inches tall and 32 inches wide, and bears lavender flowers in midsummer.
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 | 'June'
'June' was the American Hosta Growers Hosta of the Year
in 2001, and for good reason. This markedly attractive hosta
is beloved for its heavy leaves with
blue-green margins, gold centers with green striations within the gold, and bright color in the shade.
It grows to 15 inches tall and 15 inches wide and bears very fragrant
violet flowers from July to August. A winner on all counts.
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 | A 'June' bed
A simple bed with two 'June' hostas becomes a centerpiece in the Close garden, thanks to the coloration and solid, "substantial" look of the plant.
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 | 'Koriyama'
Description to come
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 | 'Lakeside Kaleidoscope'
Description to come
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 | 'Little Wonder'
A closer look at 'Little Wonder' and its unusually attractive coloration. |
 | 'Love Pat'
Description to come
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 | 'Minuteman'
This Hosta Garden planting of 'Minuteman' highlights its beautiful mounding habit as well as its striking, glossy, dark-green leaves with creamy white margins. A sport of 'Francee', it grows to a foot tall and 2 feet wide with pale lavender flowers in July. An eyecatcher wherever it grows, it'll even take some sun. If you find one, best buy it quickly, as it's so popular it tends to sell out very early in the season.
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 | 'Mountain Snow'
Description to come
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 | 'Night Before Christmas'
Description to come
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 | 'Patriot'
The dramatic coloration of the 'Patriot' hosta made it the 1997 Hosta of the Year and since an enduring favorite. The plant grows to 20" tall and 24" wide. Growers say it does best with some morning sun.
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 | 'Paul's Glory'
The American Hosta Growers' Hosta of the Year for 1999. Description to come
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 | 'Pineapple Upside Down Cake'
This whimsically named hosta is especially striking with its long, wavy leaves that start out green and turn yellow-gold trimmed with dark green. It can grow to 66" wide and 20" high and blooms in late summer. |
 | 'Potomac Pride'
Description to come
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 | 'Praying Hands'
Many hosta-lovers think 'Praying Hands' the most unusual hosta ever. The plant has extremely narrow, curled, crinkled and furrowed green-and-white leaves that some believe resemble hands folded in prayer. It forms clumps about 18 inches wide and in late summer bears 18-inch-tall spikes of light-lavender flowers.
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 | 'Queen Josephine'
Description to come
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 | 'Regal Splendor'
'Regal Splendor' was The American Hosta Growers' Hosta of the Year in 2003.
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 | 'Royalty'
Description to come
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 | 'Sum and Substance'
This striking hosta with its large, leathery, neutral-green leaves has been called "the biggest and most popular hosta in the world." Indeed, 'Sum and Substance,' which grows to 3' tall and 5-6' wide, was the American Hosta Growers Association's Hosta of the Year in 2004. The AHGA says that its award winners are "hostas that are good garden plants in all regions of the country, are widely available, in sufficient supply, and retail for about $15."
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 | 'Sweet Home Chicago'
The leaves of 'Sweet Home Chicago', with their green-gold centers and richer green margins, make it a widely popular hosta. It grows to 18" tall and 45" wide. Its colors deepen as the season progresses.
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 | 'So Sweet'
The American Hosta Growers' Hosta of the Year in 1996. Description to come
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 | 'Show Boat'
Description to come
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 | 'Shade Fanfare'
Description to come
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 | 'Something Blue'
Description to come
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 | 'Spring Lace'
Description to come
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 | 'Stenantha Variegated'
Description to come
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 | 'Sugar and Cream'
Description to come
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 | 'Summer Fragrance'
Description to come
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 | 'Summer Music'
Description to come
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