|
 This cultivar has
H. kikutii yakusimensis in its
background. It was originated by
Dr.
Shuichi Hirao in
Japan and registered
on his behalf by
Peter Ruh of Ohio in 1997. The plant grows
into a medium size hosta about 17
inches in height with a spread around 43 inches. Its medium
green foliage is lance shaped, slightly wavy and has smooth
texture. Lavender flowers in dense clusters bloom in September.
This cultivar is part of the "Hirao
Series" of hostas.
According to
The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "...formerly known as "Hirao
59"...no doubt the same as or close
to H. kikutii yakusimensis, blooming at about the same time and
making the same dense mound of long, narrow foliage with deeply
impressed vein pairs.
Herb Benedict once remarked that this was
one of the most beautiful hostas for flower effect."
 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. tortifrons is now H. 'Tortifrons'
and H. tardiflora is H. 'Tardiflora'.
An article about Fall Bloomers by
Herb Benedict and
Jim Wilkins in
The
Hosta Journal (1991 Vol. 22 No. 1) states that, "Here
are some of the fall blooming plants we grow...(listed in the order of bloom
times in Michigan).
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| 1) H. kikutii
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A medium size plant densely flowering
with white blooms. The flowers are equally arranged around the
central axis of the raceme so that the bloom scapes resembles a
bottle brush or pony tail...We are growing two named varieties,
'Hirao-59' (now H. 'Hirao
Splendor') and 'Finlandia'. |
| 2) H. 'Fall Bouquet' |
Small, green plant, leaves slightly
undulated, lavender scape and blooms, floriferous. |
| 3) H. longipes |
Small green plant, densely flowering
with a tall stiff bloom scape. The flowers are lavender and the
leaves are green. |
| 4) H. gracillima |
Funnel-shaped, light lavender flowers.
A miniature green plant, with shiny surface. |
| 5) H. 'Iwa
Soules' |
Iwa means rock, and this plant was
imported by Marjorie Soules, from Japan. It is a small green plant
with lavender flowers. |
| 6) H. tortifrons |
In the same section (Picnolepis) as
H. longipes and
H. rupifraga. Distinctive small plant, with twisted
green leaves and lavender flowers. |
| 7) H. 'Fused Veins' |
Small, green leaves often with ¼ inch
margin which is a lighter green. The lance shaped leaves are
undulated and the veins come together regularly. The flowers are
mauve and the scape is sometimes branched. |
| 8) H. rupifraga |
Small, medium green, with thick,
leathery, ovate leaves. Densely flowering with purple flowers. 'Urajiro',
'Grand Slam', 'Maruba Iwa' |
| 9) H. tardiflora |
This small hosta is the last to bloom
for us. Its leaves are shiny, dark green and lance shaped. The
flowers are light lavender and borne in abundance on 12 inch scapes. |
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