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H. ventricosa
'Aureomarginata'
 

This is another of the All-time Classics of hostas. It was registered by The American Hosta Society in 1986 under the hyphenated name H. ventricosa 'Aureo-marginata' on behalf of English nurseryman, Alan Bloom according to The Hosta Handbook by Mark Zilis (2000). Later it was determined that this cultivar actually originated with Karel Hensen of the Netherlands.

It is a large size plant about 22 inches high with a spread of around 47 inches. The medium to dark green foliage has a yellow to creamy white marginal variegation. Its leaves are broadly ovate with a heart shaped base, shiny on the bottom and have a twisted tip. Bright purple, bell-shaped flowers with stripes bloom in July.

The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid (1991) changed the name to its current, H. ventricosa 'Aureomarginated'. In 1993, Karel Hensen of the Netherlands was credited by The American Hosta Society with actually introducing this plant.

According to The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "Just the addition of a creamy margin to H. ventricosa created one of the most outstanding hosta cultivars in existence."

Nomenclature changes recommended in the 1991 book The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid and accepted by The American Hosta Society would update names as follows: H. ventricosa 'Aureomaculata' and H. ventricosa 'Aureomarginata'.

An article about H. ventricosa 'Aureo-maculata' and 'Aureo-marginata' by W. George Schmid in The Hosta Journal (1985 Vol. 16) states that, "H. ventricosa is one of the oldest hostas in cultivation...The variegated form of H. ventricosa that is now identified with the cultivar name of 'Aureo-marculata' can be traced back to P.F. von Siebold's time. In 1876, E. Regel published a paper on hostas in Germany and in it referred to a "Funkia ovata forma aureovariegata."...as a possible synonym for 'Aureo-maculata' form."

An article  by C.H. Falstad about the stability of colors in hosta leaves in The Hosta Journal (2006 Vol. 37 No. 1) says, "However, in a variegated plant, when the cells don't stay in place, the leaves can end up all one color, as when 'Guacamole'...goes back to 'Fried Green Tomatoes'...In rare instances, a complete pattern reversal can occur, as with 'Flame Stitch'...from H. ventricosa 'Aureomarginata'...and 'Eskimo Pie'...from 'Northern Exposure'..."


8 8.8
1975 #5
1985 #7
1990 #6
1991 #6
1992 #6
1993 #11
1994 #12
1996 #17
   







 

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