| The History of hostas begins in Japan. Hosta | | | | Shady Garden in 1969. Two more editions of |
| is a known as giboshi in its country of | | | | this seminal book on hostas were published |
| origin but it is also sometimes spelt as | | | | 1973, 1979. |
| giboushi in some regions. Hostas grow rampant | | | | |
| and wild in Japan. Although the plant is | | | | In the late 1970s Mark Zilis and Walters |
| also native to Korea and China it is in Japan | | | | Gardens developed the first hosta tissue |
| that you will find the most varieties. Most | | | | culture lab. This led to two of the biggest |
| hostas are descended from two smallish | | | | companies in existence for hosta growth and |
| varieties that originate in Japan. One is | | | | distribution. That is Walters Gardens Inc. |
| Oba Giboshi, which describes hostas with | | | | and Q and Z nurseries. |
| ripple leaves and green centers. It is known | | | | |
| as H. Montana in western cultures. The other | | | | In the late seventies through to the late |
| is Ohatsuki Giboshi, which features green | | | | eighties Paul Aden and Klehm Nursery were |
| centers with cream-colored edges. This is | | | | also responsible for the wide spread |
| the variegated version of hosta that most of | | | | popularity of hostas. The catalogues used to |
| us know as variegated hostas today. | | | | published hosta prices and pictures during |
| | | | this time helped distribute information from |
| Hostas have only really become popular in the | | | | Eunice Fisher's book as well as name very |
| last twenty years. However there were some | | | | popular hostas such as Sum and Substance and |
| landmark events in the plants history that | | | | Great Expectations. |
| are notable. | | | | |
| | | | In the late seventies another gardener named |
| In the 1940s a nursery called Savory Garden | | | | Mildred Seaver perfected yet another type of |
| that was run by Bob and Arlene Savory in | | | | blue variety of hosta which are often |
| Britain perfected the yellow gold varieties. | | | | referred to as the Sea Series. The hosta |
| These hybrids were more sun loving and | | | | Spilt Milk is a nice example of the best of |
| included varieties like the bright yellow | | | | her work. It is grey blue with a white |
| Lemon Lime and Golden Tiara. | | | | speckled film. The passion for the blue |
| | | | hostas that Seaver created was spread further |
| In the early sixties a British gardener named | | | | by the clever mail order marketing of |
| Eric Smith managed to create a number of | | | | Hatfield gardens which was a seminal company |
| hybrids that resulted in the powdery blue | | | | when it came to distributing blue hostas |
| shade loving hostas that people love to | | | | across North America. |
| collect today. These hostas are known as the | | | | |
| Tardania Hybrids. | | | | Today hostas remain the #1 perennial in the |
| | | | United States. You can find them almost |
| Hosta fanatic Eunice Fisher first established | | | | anywhere. From large Home Improvement stores |
| the American Hosta Society, which now boasts | | | | to your Mom and Pop Garden Center. In the |
| over 350,000 members in 1969. Eunice Fisher | | | | last few years many nurseries have decided to |
| is also responsible for publishing of the | | | | offer hostas online. Ebay, Daves Garden and |
| first hosta book for gardeners and | | | | hundreds of Hosta Business websites now offer |
| collectors, Hosta: The Aristocratic Plant for | | | | beautiful hostas to the public! |