Have you ever wondered who picks the Hosta of the Year? Let me tell you. It’s the American Hosta Growers Association. The members of this association each vote on the breed, which must be quite the task as there are literally thousands of hosta varieties on the market.
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 in the year of selection.
The 2022 winner is Island Breeze. This is a small hosta, growing to 12” tall and 18” wide. Its bold, substantial foliage brightens the garden.
The thick, rounded leaves emerge bright gold with a medium green margin in the spring. As summer progresses, the gold will fade to a softer yellow if the plant receives more sun; if the plant is in deeper shade, the yellow will turn soft lime green.
The leaves are thick and resistant to damage from pests (a real plus). It is a sport (genetic mutation) of Paradise Island, which is an offspring of Fire Island.
Island Breeze offers brighter color, wider leaf margins and thicker leaves than its ancestors. It has red leaf stems, adding to the color show.
This variety grows in part sun or full shade and needs regular moisture. It grows well in zones 3-9. The blooms are lavender.
It sounds like one I’ll have to try.
Previous winners are:
- 2021: Rainbow's End
- 2020: Dancing Queen
- 2019: Lakeside Paisley Print
- 2018: World Cup
- 2017: Brother Stefan
- 2016: Curly Fries
- 2015-Victory
- 2014: Abiqua Drinking Gourd
- 2013: Rainforest Sunrise
- 2012: Liberty
- 2011: Praying Hands
- 2010: First Frost
- 2009: Earth Angel
- 2008: Blue Mouse Ears
- 2007: Paradigm
- 2006: Stained Glass
- 2005: Striptease
- 2004: Sum and Substance
- 2003: Regal Splendor
- 2002: Guacamole
- 2001: June
- 2000: Sagae
- 1999: Paul's Glory
- 1998: Fragrant Bouquet
- 1997: Patriot
- 1996: So Sweet
Out of that list, my favorites are Victory, Liberty, Striptease, Sagae and June.
Sum and Substance works in an area that gets more sun, but there's not a thing wrong with the others either.
In my garden, Victory is a fast grower and has very large leaves and is a real show stopper. Some on the list I haven’t had long enough to evaluate. Good small, front-of-the-border hostas include Curly Fries, Praying Hands and Blue Mouse Ears.
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Master Gardener Sue Morris has been writing this column since 1991 for Kandiyohi County newspapers. Morris has been certified through the University of Minnesota as a gardening and horticulture expert since 1983. She lives in Kandiyohi County.
Master Gardener Sue Morris has been writing a column since 1991 for Kandiyohi County newspapers. Morris has been certified through the University of Minnesota as a gardening and horticulture expert since 1983. She lives in Kandiyohi County.
FAQs
Hosta 'Island Breeze', the 2022 Hosta of the Year, is a small cultivar that displays soft yellow summer variegation in part shade. In deeper shade, the color will be more lime green.
What is the lifespan of a hosta? ›
Hostas require little care and will live to be 30 or more years if properly cared for. While most known for thriving in the shade garden, the reality is more nuanced. The ideal situation is dappled shade.
Will hosta come back? ›
Hosta is virtually carefree and comes back reliably year after year.
What is the name of the big daddy hosta? ›
An additional common name for plants in this genus is plantain lily (foliage is somewhat plantain-like and flowers are somewhat lily-like in some species). 'Big Daddy' is a large, blue-leaved hosta that grows in a mound to 28" tall and to 40" wide. It is a sport of H. 'Fortunei Robusta Variegated'.
What is the hosta of the year for 2024? ›
'Mini Skirt' hosta has been named "Hosta of the Year" for 2024 by the American Hosta Growers Association (AHGA). This miniature hosta is a cute and eye-catching variety with variegated foliage and purple summer flowers.
What is the most beautiful hosta? ›
Most Beautiful Blue Variety
With so many choices, something special has to set one blue hosta apart from another. While the powdery blue leaves of 'Krossa Regal' are beautiful on their own, it's the distinctive vase-shaped habit and willowy flower stems that offer something extra.
What killed my hostas? ›
Petiole rot Petiole rot, caused by Sclerotium rolfsii var. delphinii, can rapidly damage or kill hosta plants and is difficult to eradicate. Small spheres produced by the fungus, called sclerotia, are about the same size as mustard seeds (Figs.
Do hostas multiply every year? ›
Usually hostas take the first year after planting to settle in, and then the second year they make some growth, and then after that, the clump continues to get a little larger every year, if it has optimal care and light.
What happens if you don't cut back hostas in the fall? ›
The answer really depends on whether or not you can stand to look at a border like this through Winter… Most Hostas leaves turn yellow, die back and go dormant over the Winter. After the first frost of the season, the leaves tend to go a bit mushy too.
What is the best fertilizer for hostas? ›
An organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion or processed chicken manure is ideal. Follow the label instructions and all the nutrients will be retained in the soil by the organic matter. If you prepare all your hosta beds this way you will observe that the best growth is obtained in the areas with more moisture.
If you notice that your hosta leaves are mysteriously getting smaller year after year, even on the plant varieties that are supposed to be larger, there's a good chance that something else is sucking the water and nutrition away from the plant.
Do purple hostas exist? ›
Hosta 'Purple Haze' bears heart-shaped, blue-green leaves which darken to purple towards the centre, on purple stems. For best results, grow in partial shade, ideally with some morning sun to bring out the colour of the leaves.
How long do hostas live? ›
Hostas are the go-to perennial for shady gardens, and for good reason. These rugged plants live for decades and require virtually no attention. Rake away the old leaves in spring and you're done! The following tips for growing hostas will help you take full advantage of these easy and rewarding shade-loving plants.
What is the fastest growing hosta? ›
For fast growing larger hostas you have varieties such as 'Krossa Regal', 'Christmas Tree' and 'Prince of Wales'. Very reliable and good looking plants, they make filling a space in a bed or pot very quick and cost effective.
What is the year of the hosta Neptune? ›
'Neptune' has arching, wedge-shaped leaves that hold their powdery blue color well into summer. But what really sets this hosta apart are the beautifully rippled margins of the leaves and the way that the leaves seem to cascade over one another like a fountain of blue water.
What is the houseplant of the year 2022? ›
The versatile and easy-going peperomia is, therefore, a worthy initial choice for the houseplant category, and with many new cultivars being raised, we will be spoiled for choice for plants to enhance our homes!
Which hostas grow best in full shade? ›
The blue-green leaf varieties of hostas do best in the deep shade. The variegated leaf varieties of hostas do well in deep shade, part shade, and bright shade. The bright green and chartreuse varieties of hostas do best in part shade to bright shade.
