There's a huge number of hostas introduced every year, many raised across the Atlantic, and some of the newcomers are to be seen at this week's Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Mickfield Hostas from Stowmarket in Suffolk, holders of one of the National Hosta Collections, have one much respected new hosta on their marquee exhibit.
Hosta ‘Heart and Soul' is a small variegated. Each gently rippled leaf has good substance and measures about 3-4in/2.5-3in and its subtle leaf pattern changes as the season develops. At first the colouring is greenish yellow and then becomes cream and then a rather variable green edging develops.
The end result is a mature leaf which features a green rim varying from a slim green band at the sides to widening at some points along the edge. The central variegation features an almost yellow area close to the stem and this colouring fades through cream to greenish cream towards the tip. Once the leaves fully mature the contrast between the pale central area and the green edge is very striking. In summer, upright spikes of lavender flowers emerge and reach about 45cm/18in high..
This is a hosta often suggested as being more sun tolerant than most, although most soil is always a big help in taking sun.
Raised by the well respected hosta breeder Rob Mortko in 2000, ‘Heart and Soul' is a sport of ‘Vanilla Cream', which was itself derived from the tokudama hybrid ‘Little Aurora'. 'Heart and Soul' is the reverse variegation of another sport of 'Vanilla Cream', 'Ice Cream'.
You can buy plants at the Show or online from the Mickfield Hostas website.