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Hosta 'Patriot'
Patriot Hosta
Genus native to Japan, China, Korea (cultivar of garden origin)
Overview
Hosta 'Patriot' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial reaching 18-22 inches (45-56 cm) tall in foliage and 30-40 inches (75-100 cm) wide at maturity. Leaves are heart-shaped to ovate, 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) long and 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) wide, with dark green centers and 0.75-1.5 inch (2-3.8 cm) white margins. The white margin emerges as creamy yellow in spring and whitens through summer. Funnel-shaped lavender flowers 1-1.5 inches (2.5-3.8 cm) long open on scapes 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) tall above the foliage in July-August. Mature size requires 3-4 years from a 1-gallon (3.8 L) starter plant. The cultivar is a sport of Hosta 'Francee' discovered by John Machen Jr. and registered in 1991; American Hosta Growers Association named it Hosta of the Year for 1997. Slugs and snails feed on leaves in cool wet conditions; thin, variegated leaf tissue shows more slug damage than thick blue-leaved hostas. All-green reverted shoots appear occasionally and are cut at the crown to limit reversion.
Native Range
The genus Hosta is native to Japan, China, and Korea, growing in moist forests, woodland edges, and stream banks. 'Patriot' is a sport of Hosta 'Francee', registered by John Machen Jr. in 1991.Suggested Uses
Used in shaded borders, beneath deciduous trees, and as edging along shaded paths spaced 30-36 inches (75-90 cm) apart. The white-margined foliage shows visible contrast against dark green backgrounds in mass plantings. Grown in containers of at least 5 gallons (19 L); flowers and leaves are smaller in containers than in ground plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'6" - 1'10"
Width/Spread2'6" - 3'4"
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Bloom Information
Lavender funnel-shaped flowers open on scapes 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) tall above the foliage in July-August. Individual flowers last 1 day; total bloom period extends 2-3 weeks. Cooler zones 4-6 see bloom in early to mid-August; warmer zones 7-9 bloom in mid- to late July.Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Dark green center with white marginGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Water weekly during the first growing season with 2-3 gallons (7.5-11 L) per session in the absence of rain. Established clumps tolerate 2 weeks without rain but show wilting and crisp leaf margins during prolonged drought. Variegated foliage holds color in part shade with 2-4 hours of morning sun; extended afternoon sun in zones 7-9 scorches white leaf margins. Slugs and snails feed on leaves in cool wet conditions; iron phosphate baits or copper barriers reduce damage. Voles tunnel and feed on crowns in winter under heavy mulch in zones 4-6; gravel-amended planting holes deter access. Hosta virus X (HVX) appears as puckered leaf surfaces and color streaks; affected plants should be discarded with surrounding soil to limit spread.Pruning
Cut foliage to 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) above the crown after the first hard frost or in early spring before new growth emerges. Remove flower scapes after bloom in mid- to late summer to direct energy to leaf growth. Damaged or yellowing leaves are removed mid-season as observed. All-green reverted shoots that emerge occasionally are cut at the crown to limit takeover of the variegated clump. Division every 4-5 years in spring rejuvenates clumps when bloom decreases.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
fallearly spring
Maintenance Level
lowContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons