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Hosta 'Donahue Piecrust'
 

This long known cultivar was registered in 1999 by Peter Ruh of Ohio on behalf of the originator, Thomas Donahue of Massachusetts. It is a large size plant (28 inches high by 60 inches wide) with dark green leaves that have prominent ripples (piecrusting) along the edges. Near white, fertile flowers bloom from late June into July on scapes about 27 inches tall.

According to The Hosta Handbook by Mark Zilis (2000), "...'Donahue Piecrust' has the reputation of being the best parent for "piecrust" hostas. A very high percentage of its seedlings inherit the genetic trait for rippled margins."

The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009) states, "In the garden, it makes a magnificent specimen, but can also be used as a background plant or large ground cover...registered as a hybrid of H. montana (Stevenson 2000), but more likely a seedling of 'Fortunei Gigantea' or 'Green Piecrust'..."

The New Encyclopedia of Hostas by Diana Grenfell (2009) states: "Slow to increase. The spectacular piecrust edge takes several years to develop fully. This parent of earlier introductions with piecrust edges has been superseded as a garden plant."



An article by Kevin Walek in The Hosta Journal (2008 Vol. 39 No. 2) states that, "H. 'Candy Dish' and its pod parent, 'Urajiro Hachijo', probably a form of H. longipes, both show potential for breeding outstanding piecrusted cultivars...Think about how many people coveted 'Donahue Piecrust' for its wavy edge and coloration. Now think about the same look on a much smaller leaf, with a much smaller and tighter clump. You can imagine the possibilities."

Mikiko Lockwood in an article on The Hosta Library titled, A Little About Japanese Hosta Terms defines the term urajiro as white-backed or white underside.

1 39 1991 #39





       


 

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