''Hosta'' 'Undulata' is a

cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...

of the genus ''

Hosta ''Hosta'' (, syn. ''Funkia'') is a genus of plants commonly known as hostas, plantain lilies and occasionally by the Japanese name gibōshi. Hostas are widely cultivated as shade-tolerant foliage plants. The genus is currently placed in the fa ...

'', widely cultivated as ornamental plants in borders or as specimen plants. It was formerly regarded as a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

under the name ''Hosta undulata'' (Otto & A.Dietr.) L.H.Bailey. It is not accepted as a species by the ''World Checklist of Selected Plant Families'' , and has been relegated to cultivar status by Schmid. Tolerating temperatures as low as , ''H.'' 'Undulata' and its related cultivars are widely grown in

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...

zones. Garden performance is best in partial to moderate shade, in well-drained moist soil. Hostas in the 'Undulata' group include an all-green cultivar, 'Undulata Erromena'; a white-edged cultivar, 'Undulata Albomarginata'; and white-centered (medio-variegated) cultivars that may be grouped according to the amount of white in the leaf. The typical ''H.'' 'Undulata' has a wide white center, wider than the green of the margins. Over time (or as a cultivar selection), the white center can narrow to a form classified as ''H.'' 'Undulata Univittata'; the displayed picture is more of this type. These four are the only registered Undulata cultivar names.hostaregistrar.org
/ref> Other names for the white-centered forms include Undulata variegata, Undulata mediopicta, and registered forms such as ''H.'' 'Middle Ridge' and 'White Feather'. The expansion of the green margins (narrowing of the center) depends on garden culture. In time, the all-green 'Undulata Erromena' cultivar may appear. As this all-green form is significantly more vigorous than the variegated form, it can quickly overwhelm a planting of 'Undulata'. Division of the fast-growing clumps to remove undesired leaf forms is easily accomplished. In areas with significant summer heat, or where planted in too much light, the white-centered forms are also prone to a greening of the leaf centers, shown as a misting that darkens with the season. This is typical behavior and not indicative of disease or mutation. The substance of the leaves is among the thinnest of hostas, making them particularly subject to

slug Slug, or land slug, is a common name for any apparently shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusc. The word ''slug'' is also often used as part of the common name of any gastropod mollusc that has no shell, a very reduced shell, or only a smal ...

damage. All hostas are attractive to deer. The flower scapes of all ''H.'' 'Undulata' cultivars are tall and offer pale lavender blossoms which are very attractive to bees. The flowers for the various 'Undulata' cultivars are essentially similar. These cultivars are effectively sterile and do not generally set seed either by self-pollination or by attempted hybridization. The variety listed as ''Hosta undulata'' var. ''undulata'' has gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

References

External links

Missouri Botanical Garden

Undulata Ornamental plant cultivars {{Asparagaceae-stub