No. Originator/Registrant Cultivars State/Country - - - - - - - - - - - - - About the Originator - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 Unknown 1496 Unknown The name of the person or persons who hybridized, found, selected or otherwise originated a hosta cultivar is not always known. Over time, that information is lost or was never known to the gardening public. Pleas click on the "Unknown" link and, if you know the originator of any of these plants, please let us know. 2 Zilis, Mark 491 Illinois Author of The Hostapedia (2009) and early implementer of tissue culture at his nursery in Illinois. He was awarded the Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award in 2001. 3 Ruh, Peter 449 Ohio Owner of Sunnybrook Farms, Peter (1921-2016) registered many hostas on behalf of himself and other originators. He was awarded the 1984 Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award and the 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award 4 Benedict, Dr Ralph (Herb) 349 Michigan A veterinarian and renowned hybridizer, Herb (1913-2004) was awarded the 1984 Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award. The AHS Display Garden in Tipton, MI is named for him and his wife, Dorothy. 5 Wade, Van 342 Ohio Van (1930-2017) was owner of Wade and Gatton Nursery and winner of the 2002 Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. 6 Malloy, Alex 337 New York An antiquarian and Hosta Master Judge, Alex (1938-2019) had a personal collection of over 3,000 hostas. 7 The American Hosta Society 335 Unknown The American Hosta Society has periodically registered "significant" cultivars on behalf of others. The AHS has not actually originated any hostas. 8 Aden, Paul 267 New York Editor of The Hosta Book, Paul (1925-2010) was noted for introducing hundreds of new hostas developed by himself or by others from his nursery, Garden of Aden in New York. 9 Linneman, Jeroen 264 Netherlands Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award winner in 2019, Jeroen is a past president of the Dutch Hosta Society. 10 Elslager, Ed 253 Michigan Dr Elslager (1924-2005) had a PhD in Organic Chemistry and was a renowned hosta hybridizer. The Ed Elslager Hybridizer Society is named for him. 11 Goodwin, Randy 239 Indiana Retired teacher who is active in the Indianapolis Hosta Society. His garden has been included on 3 National Conventions of The American Hosta Society. 12 Kuenster, Rod 230 Iowa Originator of the "Cosmic" series and registrant of many hostas on behalf of Herb Benedict. 13 Walek, Kevin 230 Virginia Former Hosta Registrar and former AHS President. He was awarded the 2005 Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award. Registered many hostas on behalf of others. 14 Chastain, Mary 222 Tennessee Former owner of Lakeside Nursery and winner of Eunice Fishcer Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award in 2007. 15 Ward, Dr Dick 213 Ohio Dick (1933-2021) was a Medical Doctor and winner of Eunice Fishcer Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award in 2010. 16 Ward, Jane 213 Ohio Co-Registrant of many new hostas with her husband, Dick. 17 Van Eechaute, Danny 191 Belgium Originator of the "Flemish" series and many other new cultivars. Top non-U.S. hosta hybridizer by the numbers. 18 Livingston, Ron 189 Michigan Retired science teacher and co-creater of the Fraternal Order of Seedy Fellows hybridizing group. 19 Solberg, Robert 158 North Carolina Owner of Green Hill Farm nursery and co-founder of The American Hosta Growers Association. Awarded Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award and Eunice Fishcer Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award. 20 King, Herb 157 Wisconsin Hybridizer whose garden was on the tour of the 2019 National Convention of The American Hosta Society. 21 Kwick, Charles 157 Wisconsin Retired physical education teacher. 22 Beilstein, Doug 153 Ohio Doug is a dentist and former AHS President. He was the Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award winner in 2017. 23 Schwarz, Jim 148 Iowa Former owner of Jim's Hostas in Iowa and active in the Dubuque Arboretum Society. 24 Hadrava, Jerry 147 Iowa Owner of Bloom Hill Nursery, Jerry (1931-2007) created the large "Rosedale" series. 25 Fransen, Marco 141 Netherlands Owner with his wife, Joyce, of the Fransen Hosta Nursery. Creator of the "Paradise" series of cultivars. 26 Van den Top, Jan 140 Netherlands Owner of Hostaworld Nursery. 27 Goodenough, Rick 129 Massachusetts Active in the New England Hosta Society and has written several articles for The Hosta Journal. 28 Lydell, Ransom 127 New York Owner of Cooks Nursery and Eagle Bay Gardens since 1981 and has been on the Board of the American Hosta Growers Association. 29 Seaver, Mildred 123 Massachusetts A pioneer in the world of hostas, Mildred (1913-2011) was known as the "Queen of Hostas". She was awarded Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award in 1988 and Eunice Fishcer Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award in 2006. 30 Hansen, Hans 119 Michigan Hybridizer of several plant species, he has worked at Shady Oaks Nurser and currently works at Walters Gardens in Michigan. 31 Walters Gardens 119 Michigan One of the world's largest producers of herbaceous perennials and located in Zeeland, Michigan. Mark Zilis started their tissue culture lab in 1976. Renowned hybridizer Hans Hansen now works for Walters. 32 Avent, Tony 114 North Carolina Owner of Plant Delights Nursery, well known plant explorer and creator of the Juniper Level Botanical Gardens in North Carolina. Winner of Eunice Fischer Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award in 2015. 33 Moore, Jeff 113 Wisconsin Specializes in bringing new colors to hosta flowers. Has Jeff Moore's Hosta Buyers Guide Facebook page. 34 Dean, Don 109 Minnesota Retired teacher, past president of The AHS and recipient of the Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award in 2008. 35 Miller, Jeff 105 Wisconsin Jeff (1960-2021) and his wife, Penny, owned the Land of Giants Hosta Farm. They originated the "Giantland" series.
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