Listen to Paul Parent and David Wilson as they discuss Hosta ‘Paul's Glory’ on the February 19, 2006 The Paul Parent Garden Club radio show [5:10 minutes]
As gardeners, we are always looking for plants that give exceptional value in the landscape. When it comes to providing the very best value, our Garden Splendor® variety, ‘Paul's Glory’, ranks right at the top of the list.
Voted Hosta of the Year in 1999, it really is a superb perennial. ‘Paul's Glory’ is adaptable, doesn't need any fussing or pampering, gives a long, uninterrupted display — in short, it has a great deal of ornamental merit. So we thought you would like to know about it.
This magnificent, variegated hosta is deservedly one of the most popular varieties ever introduced. It is hardy, easy to grow, doesn't need much maintenance, is nice and vigorous, yet doesn't grow too big, and best of all, ‘Paul's Glory’ gives an exceptionally long period of display. And, what's more, it is constantly changing throughout the entire growing year.
I love the way the handsome, heart-shaped leaves change color. They start out in spring and early summer with a soft, chartreuse center and a darker, bluish-green margin. Then, as summer beckons, these leaf centers intensify to shades of lemon, gradually deepening to gold. And, if the plants are in a position where they receive higher levels of light, they change again to a creamy white color. This ever changing display doesn't end there. In mid-summer, the 2 feet high x 3 feet wide mounds sprout trusses of lily-like, soft lavender to almost white flowers that prominently rise above the foliage on strong, sturdy stems.
Mature plants have another interesting and attractive feature, too. The leaves develop a puckered or crimped surface that looks like seersucker fabric. This provides a rich, textured effect that looks particularly pleasing in the evening light or first thing in the morning when the dew is glistening on the leaf surfaces.
In my garden, I grow ‘Paul's Glory’ in a moist corner with other hostas and moisture loving Japanese and Siberian irises. You will see that we featured it in our guide to growing hostas. When you browse through the pictures, I think you'll see how it stands out and carries the display on after most of the other plants are well past their best. You will also see how easy they are to grow and care for them. By visiting our Plant Encyclopedia section, you will be able to find out all you need to know about the cultural requirements and also get ideas and suggestions for where you might like to grow and use this wonderful selection.
You'd think a plant this good must have been the result of a long, intensive breeding campaign. Well, in fact, it occurred as a chance mutation in a field of hostas grown by Paul Hofer of Antioch Farms (Perry, Ohio). His friend and well-known hosta collector, Peter Ruh, happened to be walking through a batch of Hosta 'Perry's True Blue' when he noticed that one of the plants had a portion with this remarkable variegated foliage.
Now Peter is an avid hosta collector. He and his wife, Jean, have been growing hostas for over fifty years! They have over 2,000 different varieties on 2½ acres around their home. So Peter suspected at once that he had found something truly special. He offered to propagate, register, and introduce the fledgling plant generously allowing his friend to name it.
Paul Hofer affectionately referred to his wife, Linda, as glory, so in a creative and touching way, he decided that combining their names (‘Paul's Glory’) would be appropriate.
It is with pleasure that we now introduce you to ‘Paul's Glory’. It is a wonderful plant and a worthy example of why Garden Splendor® plants are known to be: The best of the “tried and true” and the most promising of the exciting and new.
We invite you to come by and see why this beauty from the Buckeye state will be glorious in your garden – and why Garden Splendor® plants are truly Plants Worth Remembering®.
Until next time, remember.... Enjoy your gardening. It's good for you!
